Macron Brings Back Sébastien Lecornu as France's Premier In the Wake of Several Days of Instability

Sébastien Lecornu portrait
The politician held the position for merely 26 days before his unexpected stepping down earlier this week

President Emmanuel Macron has requested his former prime minister to resume duties as French prime minister just days after he left the post, triggering a stretch of political upheaval and instability.

Macron stated on Friday evening, hours after gathering all the main parties collectively at the presidential palace, excluding the representatives of the far right and far left.

His reappointment shocked many, as he said on broadcast just 48 hours prior that he was not interested in returning and his task was complete.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to assemble a cabinet, but he will have to act quickly. He faces a time limit on the start of the week to present the annual budget before lawmakers.

Political Challenges and Budgetary Strains

The presidency confirmed the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and those close to the president implied he had been given “carte blanche” to proceed.

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then issued a comprehensive announcement on an online platform in which he consented to responsibly the mission assigned by the president, to do everything to finalize financial plans by the December and respond to the daily concerns of our compatriots.

Ideological disagreements over how to bring down the country's public debt and balance the books have caused the ouster of multiple premiers in the recent period, so his challenge is immense.

Government liabilities earlier this year was almost 114% of gross domestic product – the number three in the eurozone – and this year's budget deficit is projected to amount to 5.4% of economic output.

The premier emphasized that no one can avoid the need of restoring the nation's budget. With only 18 months before the completion of his mandate, he warned that those in the cabinet would have to set aside their presidential ambitions.

Governing Without a Majority

What makes it even harder for Lecornu is that he will face a vote of confidence in a National Assembly where the president has no majority to support him. The president's popularity reached its lowest point recently, according to research that put his public backing on 14 percent.

The far-right leader of the far-right National Rally, which was excluded of Macron's talks with political chiefs on the end of the week, said that the decision, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the Élysée, is a poor decision.

The National Rally would quickly propose a vote of no confidence against a failing government, whose main motivation was dreading polls, the leader stated.

Forming Coalitions

The prime minister at least knows the pitfalls he faces as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already used time recently consulting factions that might participate in his administration.

Alone, the moderate factions are insufficient, and there are splits within the conservative Republicans who have assisted Macron's governments since he lacked support in the previous vote.

So Lecornu will consider socialist factions for possible backing.

As a gesture to progressives, the president's advisors indicated the president was thinking of postponing to portions of his highly contentious retirement changes enacted last year which increased the pension age from 62 to 64.

That fell short of what progressive chiefs desired, as they were expecting he would appoint a leader from the left. The Socialist leader of the leftist party stated lacking commitments, they would withhold backing for the premier.

Fabien Roussel from the left-wing party said after meeting the president that the left wanted genuine reform, and a leader from the central bloc would not be supported by the public.

Greens leader Marine Tondelier said she was “stunned” Macron had offered the left almost nothing to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.

Diana Moore
Diana Moore

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