France’s Lecornu explains surprise reappointment as prime minister

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Saturday explained his surprise reappointment by French President Emmanuel Macron, just days after he announced his resignation.

Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, took office as prime minister just four weeks ago but resigned on Monday amid government tensions, plunging France into a further political crisis.

But his return was confirmed on Friday after he was tasked by Macron with holding last-ditch talks with political opponents to find a path forward after months of instability in Paris.

Under the French constitution, a new budget for the coming year must be submitted to parliament by a prime minister by Monday at the latest.

“I have no other ambition than to get us out of this situation, which is objectively very difficult for everyone,” said Lecornu in the Paris suburb of L’Haÿ-les-Roses on Saturday.

“So I give myself a pretty clear task,” he said, referring to the budget deadline. “And then either the political forces help me with it and we work together – or they don’t.”

France has been mired in political deadlock since a snap election in mid-2024, which left no camp with a majority.

While a left-wing alliance emerged with the most seats, Macron has steadfastly refused to work with the left, nominating a series of centrist and conservative prime ministers that have proven unable to build parliamentary majorities.

Lecornu must now put together a Cabinet quickly over the weekend and has hinted that he could turn to the left.