THE GUARDIAN: Sébastien Lecornu, a presidential ally, is tasked with bringing France’s divided parties together to pass a budget
Sébastien Lecornu, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, has been appointed prime minister, tasked with consulting France’s divided political parties to try to find a consensus on the budget.
The 39-year-old began his political career in the traditional right party of Nicolas Sarkozy before moving to Macron’s centre in 2017 and is seen as fiercely loyal to the president.
His promotion from defence minister shows Macron’s determination to press on with a minority government that stands firmly behind his pro-business economic reform agenda, under which taxes on business and the wealthy have been cut and the retirement age raised.
However, in an unusual move in French politics, Macron’s office said the president had asked Lecornu to hold talks with all political forces in parliament in view of finding compromises on the budget and other policies before naming his cabinet. » | Angelique Chrisafis in Paris | Tuesday, September 9, 2025
Sébastien Lecornu à Matignon, la récompense d’un fidèle du président : PORTRAIT - Au gouvernement depuis 2017, le transfuge de la droite âgé de 39 ans a traversé toutes les crises politiques et su se forger une place de choix dans le dispositif macroniste. Mais cette nouvelle étape s’annonce périlleuse. »
Former un gouvernement, bâtir un budget, éviter la censure… Les cinq travaux qui attendent Sébastien Lecornu : À peine nommé à Matignon, l’ancien ministre des Armées devra former son gouvernement, avant de bâtir en urgence un budget, et de reprendre de nombreux dossiers laissés en suspens. »
