Sébastien Lecornu Reappointed Prime Minister Amidst Political Crisis and Opposition Outcry
Sébastien Lecornu is reappointed Prime Minister amid France's political turmoil, facing opposition backlash and a fractured parliament.
- • Sébastien Lecornu reappointed by Emmanuel Macron after initial resignation.
- • Political support for Lecornu remains fragile, with no firm backing from key parties.
- • Opposition parties threaten censure motions and call for new elections.
- • Macron faces challenges after 2024 legislative losses, seeking new political strategy.
Key details
After five days of intense political uncertainty following his resignation, Sébastien Lecornu was reappointed as Prime Minister by President Emmanuel Macron on October 10, 2025. This rare reappointment move, reminiscent of Georges Pompidou’s in 1962, comes as Lecornu faces the daunting task of presenting and defending the government's budget and navigating fractured parliamentary support (95629, 95662).
Lecornu's position remains extremely fragile, with neither The Republicans (LR) nor Horizons party committed to backing the government, underscoring the challenges ahead. His reluctant acceptance, described as an act of "duty," highlights the complex negotiations involved in stabilizing the administration amid legislative obstacles (95662).
The political context is marked by Macron’s perceived diminishing influence following the 2024 legislative elections, which severely limited his governance options. Analysts emphasize the urgent need for a revamped political strategy from Lecornu and Macron, suggesting a pivot towards engaging the non-LFI left to form a minimal programmatic majority to sustain the government through 2027. The rise of the far-right National Rally (RN) remains a concern, yet alliances with RN are dismissed after leader Jordan Bardella ruled out coalition participation (95688).
Opposition forces reacted vehemently to Lecornu’s return. Parties such as La France Insoumise and the Rassemblement National have announced intentions to file motions of censure and call for new elections. Socialists condition their support on suspension of the pension reform. Leftist figures like Marine Tondelier and Jean-Luc Mélenchon condemned the reappointment as a disconnection from public sentiment, with Mélenchon planning a new motion of destitution against Macron. National Front leader Marine Le Pen branded the government a “democratic disgrace,” further intensifying political tensions (95659).
As France grapples with this unprecedented political moment, Macron’s administration under Lecornu must confront an embattled parliament and growing public dissent. Immediate priorities include securing fragile parliamentary alliances and managing the contentious pension reform – challenges that will define the government's survival in the coming months.