France: Defense Minister Lecornu becomes a new prime minister

Just one day after the overthrow of the center-right government in France, head of state Emmanuel Macron appointed the previous Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister. This was announced by the Élysée Palace. The 39-year-old multiple ministers are considered a confidante of Macron. Lecornu should now advise the political forces in the National Assembly in order to put the urgently needed household on its feet, it said. He should also make agreements for the decisions of the coming months.

In the communication of the Élysée Palace it was said that it was only afterwards that the new prime minister should suggest its government team. His actions should be directed by the defense of independence and strength of France. “The President of the Republic is convinced that on these basics it is possible to agree between the political forces in respect for everyone’s beliefs.”

Lecornu in 2017 was appointed to the middle government of Édouard Philippe from the conservatives. Lecornu is said to have a certain wire and respect from the right -wing national leadership figure Marine Le Pen. He is considered a politician who is tolerated by the bourgeois right and at least no blatant rejection in the left camp.

On Monday evening, the previous Premier François Bayrou lost a question of trust after less than nine months in office in the National Assembly and brought his minority government down. Michel Barnier’s center-right cabinet had fallen in December. After months of instability, France must now hope to be politically progressed.

This is particularly important with a view to the household. The highly indebted country must stabilize its austerity course and adopt a budget for the coming year. It is unclear how a new government will succeed in the split parliament in view of the far apart positions.

In terms of economic output, France has the third highest debt rate in the EU to Greece and Italy with 114 percent. In absolute figures, the highest debt mountain in the euro zone is placed in the country with around 3,300 billion euros. Government spending are also among the highest in Europe. The budget deficit was last 5.8 percent. The EU opened a deficit procedure against France in July 2024.

The National Assembly has been deeply divided since the parliamentary election last year. Macron’s middle people, Le Pens right national and the left warehouse face each other as three large blocks. None of them have their own majority. Barnier’s government depended on the right -wing national and failed that Bayrou was only tolerated by the socialists, but then played their favor.

Even under the new government, it should be a balancing act to rule with the political starting point. Coalitions cross -warehouse are unusual in France. Instead of compromise searches, a confrontation course is more likely to be carried out in the parliament.

Last but not least, Macron’s quick appointment is likely to have a self -helpful reasons. With two failed premiers in just one year, the president himself was under pressure. The right -wing nationals asked him to clear the way for new elections with a parliamentary resolution. The Altlinke LFI even wanted to stop him. Macron’s rapid nomination should therefore not only be an attempt to narrow down the budget crisis and the current political crisis, but also to get out of the line of fire.

Note: This article has been updated several times.