French President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister just days after his resignation, as the government faces growing pressure to avoid collapse and pass a national budget. The political maneuvering follows a week of intense talks and backroom deals aimed at keeping control of the fractured National Assembly.
Lecornu had declared his “mission was over” on Wednesday, but returned to lead what is now being called his “second” government in less than a month. Macron’s decision to bring him back reflects a high-stakes gamble to avoid parliamentary elections that could favor opposition forces, particularly Marine Le Pen’s populist National Rally.
In a bid to gain the Socialist Party’s support or at least avoid their opposition, Macron reportedly offered a compromise on the controversial 2023 pension reforms, which raised France’s retirement age from 62 to 64. That reform sparked nationwide protests after it was forced through without a parliamentary vote. However, Socialist leader Olivier Faure signaled the party would still censure the government unless the reform is fully suspended.
Meanwhile, Macron risks alienating his center-right and neoliberal allies by backing away from the pension overhaul. Former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe’s Horizon party has rejected any compromise on pensions, calling it a red line. Les Républicains leader Bruno Retailleau, who led the charge against Lecornu’s first cabinet earlier this week, also opposes both a new Macronist government and any rollback of the reform.
Macron appears to be betting that the center-right is more likely to back down than the left. However, any failure to pass the budget could lead to a vote of no confidence. If the Socialist Party or Les Républicains join the effort to censure the government, France may face another government collapse.
Lecornu, now reinstated, vowed Friday to deliver a budget and restore financial order, warning that France’s debt crisis cannot be ignored. “Restoring our public finances remains a priority for our future and our sovereignty,” he said.
Marine Le Pen, leading in presidential polls, seized on the chaos to renew calls for the dissolution of parliament and fresh elections. “The maneuvers continue, censorship is therefore necessary, and dissolution is more indispensable than ever,” she said, promising to hold all enablers of Macron’s agenda accountable.
