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Macron chooses Lecornu as prime minister: the youngest ever at Matignon

At 39, the former defence minister has been called upon to lead the government after Bayrou’s fall

Paris – France has a new prime minister. Emmanuel Macron has entrusted the position to Sébastien Lecornu, 39, former defence minister, called upon to succeed François Bayrou after the vote of no confidence by the National Assembly. The appointment, announced by the Élysée Palace, marks the beginning of a very delicate phase for the Fifth Republic, grappling with the budget issue and the prospect of an autumn of social tensions.

The new prime minister’s mandate

According to the Élysée Palace statement, Lecornu’s priority will be to consult with the political forces represented in Parliament to seek agreement on the budget law and strategic guidelines for the coming months. Only after this step will he present his proposed government team to Macron. The handover from Bayrou is scheduled for noon tomorrow.

A few minutes after his appointment, Lecornu posted his first statements on X: he thanked Macron for his trust, emphasising his commitment to work for “the defence of France’s independence and power, service to the people and political and constitutional stability”. He then paid tribute to Bayrou for “the courage he showed in defending his convictions to the end”.

Lecornu’s profile

Lecornu is the youngest defence minister in the history of the French Republic. During his term of office, he has promoted a plan to strengthen military capabilities by 2030, bolstering the country’s defence industry and strategic autonomy in an international context marked by the war in Ukraine.

His political career began in the conservative camp, before he joined Macron’s centrist camp in 2017. He has held local and overseas posts, distinguishing himself in the management of the “great debate” launched by the Élysée Palace after the yellow vest crisis.

Reactions

The opposition has responded to the appointment with harsh criticism. Marine Le Pen (Rassemblement National) called Lecornu “the last cartridge of Macronism”, predicting that “after the inevitable legislative elections, the prime minister will be Jordan Bardella”.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon (La France Insoumise) was even more blunt, saying that the appointment was “a sad comedy”. For the leader of the radical left, ‘only the resignation of Emmanuel Macron can put an end to this contempt for Parliament and voters’.

A crucial test

The new prime minister arrives at Matignon in a climate of great instability: the fall of the Bayrou government, the risk of new social unrest and tensions between the majority and the opposition make his mission particularly fragile. Macron entrusts him with the most difficult challenge: rebuilding a political and institutional balance that will prevent the country from falling into a long period of paralysis.

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