Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu Announces New Government Amid Political Turbulence

On October 13, 2025, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu unveiled a new government formation aimed at stabilizing a politically unstable and deeply divided Parliament. Lecornu's cabinet includes members from previous administrations, centrist allies of President Emmanuel Macron, conservative partners, and some outsiders, in a bid to address pressing budgetary challenges and ease political tensions.

Despite Lecornu's appointment and Macron’s presidency ending in 2027, the administration faces significant hurdles. Macron's centrist camp lacks a parliamentary majority, complicating governance amid vocal opposition. The far-right Rassemblement national, led by Marine Le Pen, has called for new elections, while the leftist France insoumise demands Macron’s resignation. In response, the right-wing Les Républicains party expelled six members who joined the new cabinet, highlighting fractures within political alliances.

Key appointments include Catherine Vautrin as Minister of the Armed Forces, tasked with overseeing continued military support for Ukraine, and Laurent Nuñez as Minister of the Interior, responsible for national security. Nuñez, who had been préfet de police of Paris since July 2022 leading a police force of 40,000 personnel, was widely expected for the Interior role. He previously held significant positions in the Ministry of the Interior from 2015 to 2020. Roland Lescure remains Minister of Economy amid France’s rising debt and poverty issues.

Lecornu acknowledged the difficulty of securing candidates for leadership roles and indicated potential compromises on controversial policies, including Macron's unpopular pension reform, which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 without a parliamentary vote and sparked mass protests. Political paralysis remains a concern following Macron’s dissolution of the National Assembly last year, which led to a parliament without an absolute majority.

With Parliament deeply split among far-right, centrist, and left-wing factions, Lecornu’s government faces the possibility of a motion of censure. Navigating this fractured landscape will be crucial for political and economic stability in the coming months.