France’s political crisis deepens as Lecornu returns to the premiership
French President Emmanuel Macron reignites a controversial gamble by reappointing Sebastien Lecornu as prime minister just days after Lecornu’s original resignation. The move, announced in Paris on Friday, shows Macron’s willingness to gamble on loyalists in a parliament that remains deeply divided and resistant to reform. The decision comes as France faces a looming budget deadline and mounting pressure to stabilize a government fractured by ideological fault lines on pension reform, taxation, and growth strategy.
What this restart means for the 2026 budget
Lecornu inherits the task of steering a budget through a hung National Assembly by the end of the year. His mandate is clear: secure enough cross-party support to pass a 2026 budget and avert a protracted political crisis that critics warn could derail France’s economic recovery. Lecornu, who claimed to act “out of duty” in accepting the mission, described the objective as ensuring daily life issues for citizens are addressed while restoring some stability to governance.
A government of renewal and diversity
Macron’s aides said Lecornu would have “carte blanche” to assemble a cabinet and negotiate a budget, signaling a strategic latitude to balance competing demands within a fragile alliance. Lecornu emphasized that all ministers joining the government would need to put personal ambitions aside for the sake of the country and would be chosen to reflect renewal and diversity. For a president facing criticism from both the far left and the far right, this balancing act is essential to avoid another collapse in leadership and to keep the state functioning.
The parliamentary hurdle: past, present, and possible elections
The opposition landscape has shifted little since Macron’s decision to hold a legislative election that yielded a hung parliament with three major blocs. Left-wing parties are furious that they were not named as prime minister, while conservatives remains wary of any government that might undermine their own reform agenda. As a result, Lecornu’s ability to pass a budget may hinge on compelling allies to forgo short-term electoral calculations in favor of long-term fiscal stability.
Reactions from the political spectrum
Immediate responses from the far right and far left were sharply negative. National Rally leader Jordan Bardella condemned the move as a “democratic disgrace” and a “humiliation for the French people.” The simmering dissent inside Macron’s base underscores the difficulty of governing with a weak minority. For many observers, Lecornu’s reappointment signals a strategic gamble to avoid snap elections, which some believe would benefit the far right by reshaping the electoral landscape.
Leftist and conservative blocs have yet to issue comprehensive reactions, a sign that both sides may adopt a wait-and-see approach as parliament negotiates the budget and broader reform agenda. Analysts note that any new government will need to broker compromises on pension reform and tax policy, two flashpoints that have long defined Macron’s political risk profile.
Macron’s modernization push amid a global slowdown
Economists, including central bank chief Francois Villeroy de Galhau, warn that political uncertainty can slow growth and undermine business confidence. While the central bank has signaled resilience in the broader economy, the cost of political paralysis is visible in growth forecasts and market sentiment. Macron’s strategy remains to present a credible budget framework that can reassure investors and citizens alike, even if it requires painful reductions or tax measures that none of the blocs fully embrace.
What comes next
In the coming days and weeks, Lecornu will seek to finalize a cabinet and push a 2026 budget through parliament. The outcome will likely shape the trajectory of Macron’s presidency and could determine whether France heads toward fresh elections or a reform-driven but unstable few years of governance. The pension reform question, a core issue for both left and right, looms large as part of the broader fiscal debate that will define France’s political and economic climate into 2026 and beyond.
