Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron today announced the formation of a new government, led by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, as the country continues to navigate a deepening political crisis.
According to Qatar News Agency, the announcement comes nearly a month after Macron appointed Lecornu, marking him as the seventh prime minister during his presidency, to form a new cabinet. Former Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, who held the post from 2017 to 2024, returns to government as Minister of the Armed Forces. Roland Lescure has been appointed as the new Minister of Economy and will face the pressing challenge of drafting the upcoming budget.
Several members of the previous cabinet have retained their positions, including Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau remains in office and has pledged to intensify efforts to combat irregular migration. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin and Culture Minister Rachida Dati have also kept their posts.
France has been gripped by political turmoil since Macron’s high-stakes decision to call snap parliamentary elections last year in an effort to consolidate power. However, the move resulted in a fragmented National Assembly divided among three major political blocs.
The two previous governments, led by Francois Bayrou and Michel Barnier, failed to survive parliamentary votes, largely due to controversy over proposed austerity budgets. Prime Minister Lecornu is scheduled to present his government’s agenda in a policy address to Parliament on Tuesday. Despite efforts to build cross-party support, he faces the risk of a no-confidence vote from the opposition.