Macron chooses Lecornu as new prime minister

Brussels – Sebastian Lecornu is the new French prime minister. Yesterday, after the resignation of his predecessor, François Bayrou, President Emmanuel Macron entrusted him with the mandate to form a majority. Lecornu is a Macron loyal ally: Minister for Territorial Collectivities from 2018 to 2020, Minister for Overseas Territories from 2020 to 2022, and, until yesterday, Minister of Defence.

Since 2017, his figure has been close to that of the president despite coming from a more right-wing background. His first positions came within the party La République En Marche (now Renaissance). Lecornu has often remained in the background of French politics, and it is precisely his low profile that could help him create a majority.

Macron’s move is a desperate one: placing a loyalist at Matignon and finishing the term with him. There don’t seem to be many options for Lecornu, and Macron’s move could push the new prime minister to broaden his coalition to the left.

In the other parties, the opposition is strong. Both the right and the left demand a return to the ballot box. Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen’s right-hand man, joked: “You can’t change a losing team.” The leader of the left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, called the decision a “sad farce.”

The Elysée Palace has acted promptly. Only on Monday, Prime Minister Bayrou lost the confidence vote. The need for approval of the budget law and a rapidly expanding public debt (12 million euros per hour) convinced Macron not to stall.

The government’s fall coincided with a mass mobilisation in the streets, which had already been planned some time ago. Today, 10 September, the ‘Block everything’ movement has called for a general blockade in France. The intention is to halt traffic and stop work. Mélenchon’s left-wing has been skilled in taking over the protests. French police arrested 105 people in the early morning.