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Rabat – After five days of political confusion, French President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister, ending a tense week at Matignon.
Lecornu had resigned just days earlier, only one day after naming his government, deepening France’s political crisis.
The president’s decision to bring him back, announced on Friday, comes as France faces a pressing deadline to present the 2026 budget. Macron asked Lecornu to lead “final negotiations” to break the political deadlock and move forward with the budget before the end of the year, France 24 reported.
Lecornu, one of Macron’s most loyal allies, had been appointed Prime Minister on September 9 but resigned less than a month later. His departure came amid sharp criticism from both the left and the right. He was accused by the opposition of ignoring social justice concerns and by conservatives of betraying his former party, Les Républicains.
By reappointing him, Macron has chosen continuity over change. Observers see Lecornu’s return as a sign of Macron’s limited political room for maneuver. “Lecornu is Macron’s loyal soldier. He won’t overshadow him,” said a diplomat quoted by AFP.
Lecornu began his political career on the right and joined Macron’s camp in 2017. He has served in every government since then, including as Minister of the Overseas Territories and, most recently, Minister of Defense.
As Defense Minister, he oversaw a major increase in military spending and helped strengthen France’s cooperation with European partners, particularly during the war in Ukraine. He also became a key figure during the Yellow Vest protests, co-organizing Macron’s “Grand National Debate.”
Now back at Matignon, Lecornu faces the immediate challenge of presenting and defending the 2026 budget before a deeply divided Parliament. Many see his reappointment as a risky bet for Macron, whose second term has been marked by instability and the absence of a parliamentary majority.
