Macron appoints Sébastien Lecornu as PM to lead new French government

On Sunday, October 12, 2025, Emmanuel Macron, President of France unveiled the new French government with Sébastien Lecornu, the 39‑year‑old centrist who had walked away just four days earlier, back at the helm as Prime Minister.

The ceremony took place inside the historic Élysée Palace in Paris, where weeks of frantic negotiations among the fragmented Parliament finally produced a cabinet that hopes to steady a flagging economy and placate a restless electorate.

Political backdrop and the road to a new cabinet

Macron’s first term has been a roller‑coaster of reform attempts, from pension overhauls to tax cuts, but none have been as destabilising as the spring of 2025, when his coalition lost its working majority. By early October, opposition parties—from the far‑right National Rally to the left‑leaning Socialist‑Ecologist bloc—were publicly demanding either a snap election or Macron’s resignation.

The pressure cooker reached a boil on October 9, when the president convened a marathon meeting with leaders of the centrist, centre‑right and centre‑left factions at the Élysée, deliberately excluding the extremes. The outcome? A reluctant invitation to Lecornu to return as prime minister, a move that caught political pundits off guard because the former minister had, just two days earlier, told national television his "mission is over" and that he wasn’t "chasing the job."

Key appointments and their mandates

Le Monde’s detailed roster shows a blend of familiar faces and fresh blood. Among the most noteworthy:

• Catherine Vautrin, former labour minister, now defence minister. She inherits the delicate task of overseeing French military aid to Ukraine while keeping an eye on potential Russian provocations.
• Laurent Nuñez, ex‑chief of Paris police and overseer of security for the 2024 Summer Olympics, appointed interior minister. His portfolio will cover everything from anti‑terrorism to public order during forthcoming protests.
• Roland Lescure, seasoned economist, now finance minister. Tasked with drafting the 2026 national budget, he must confront a soaring debt‑to‑GDP ratio that now hovers around 115%.
• Marina Ferrari, named minister of sports, youth and community life, expected to champion post‑Olympic legacy projects.
• Philippe Tabarot, taking charge of transportation, will have to balance railway reforms with rising fuel prices.
• Vincent Jeanbrun, appointed minister of cities and housing, faces a housing shortage that has left over 800,000 families on waiting lists.

The cabinet’s composition signals Macron’s attempt to placate both his centrist base and the more conservative allies who helped keep his agenda afloat.

Parliamentary arithmetic and immediate challenges

France’s lower house, the Assemblée Nationale, remains a patchwork of factions. The governing coalition holds roughly 210 of the 577 seats, leaving a formidable opposition that can, if it chooses, trigger a vote of no confidence at any time.

Consequently, the government’s first order of business is passing the 2026 budget—a legislative beast that, as BBC News analysis from October 10 noted, is "by nature the most controversial of all acts of legislation" in France. The budget must address three core issues: curbing the national debt, funding social welfare to stem rising poverty, and maintaining defence spending amid the Ukraine conflict.

Reactions from markets, parties and analysts

Business leaders have been vocal about the uncertainty. A senior partner at a Paris‑based investment firm told Le Monde that the "political turbulence is scaring investors, which is reflected in a 2.1% dip in the CAC 40 index on Monday afternoon."

Within the National Rally, far‑right leader Marine Le Pen called for "snap legislative elections" within days, arguing that only a fresh mandate can restore legitimacy. Meanwhile, centre‑left parties, while critical of Macron’s policies, warned that a premature election could deepen economic instability.

Economist Dr. Aline Dupont of the Institut Français d’Économie said, "If Lecornu’s team can deliver a credible, growth‑oriented budget, they might buy a few months of breathing space, but the underlying parliamentary fragmentation means the government’s lifespan remains precarious."

Looking ahead: what this government must achieve

The next 12 months will be a high‑stakes marathon. Beyond the budget, Lecornu must navigate three looming tests:

1. Securing enough cross‑party support to survive a confidence vote before the autumn session of parliament.
2. Maintaining France’s strategic role in European security while managing public fatigue over ongoing foreign engagements.
3. Restoring investor confidence by delivering clear fiscal reforms—perhaps a gradual reduction in corporate tax rates paired with targeted social spending.

How the new ministers execute their dossiers will shape not only France’s domestic narrative but also its standing on the world stage. If they stumble, the next snap election could arrive before the 2027 presidential race, reshaping the entire political map.