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France’s Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu, 39, is set to replace outgoing Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, who resigned after failing to garner support to tackle France’s mounting debt. President Macron tasked Lecornu with consulting political factions to forge agreements on a national budget and future decisions. Lecornu will then propose a new cabinet, guided by principles of independence, service, and stability. Bayrou resigned after a “no-confidence vote” following his proposal to lower the French government’s debt by 1.2%, approximately 44 billion euros, in the 2026 fiscal year. Lecornu is Macron’s fifth Prime Minister since 2022.
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France’s Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu is French President Emmanuel Macron’s pick to replace outgoing Prime Minister Francois Bayrou amid the French government’s budgetary and debt concerns. File Photo by How Hwee Young/EPA
Lecornu, 39, would replace outgoing Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, who submitted his resignation on Monday after serving nine months, according to CNN.
Macron asked Lecornu to meet with representatives of political factions within the French Parliament “in view of adopting a budget for the nation and building the agreements essential for decisions in the coming months,” Macron’s office said in a prepared statement, as reported by The New York Times.
Following those meetings, Lecornu is tasked with proposing a new cabinet.
“The prime minister’s actions will be guided by the defense of our independence and of our power, service to the French people and political and institutional stability for the unity of the country,” the statement said.
“The president of the republic is convinced that, on this basis, agreement between the political forces is possible while respecting each other’s opinions.”
Bayrou resigned after he could not secure support for legislation to address France’s rising debt.
France’s debt is nearly $198 billion, which is equal to about 5.8% of its total economic output and nearly double the European Union’s 3% limit for nations that use the euro as currency.
Bayrou sought support for lowering the French government’s debt by 1.2% by lowering its 2026 fiscal year budget by about 44 billion euros — $51.3 billion in U.S. dollars.
Bayrou’s government received a “no-confidence vote” in Parliament on Monday, which led to his resignation.
Lecornu is the fifth prime minister during Macron’s second term as French president, which began in 2022, and the nation’s third after snap parliamentary elections were held last year.
