New Prime Minister for France Announced
French President Emmanuel Macron has selected Sébastien Lecornu, the country's Defense Minister, as the new prime minister. Lecornu's immediate task is to unite the country’s diverse political parties to agree on a budget plan for one of the world’s leading economies.
The Youngest Defense Minister Takes Charge
At just 39 years old, Lecornu was the youngest Defense Minister in France's history. He is known for making plans to significantly enhance the military by 2030, a decision inspired by Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. As a devoted supporter of Macron, this makes Lecornu the fourth prime minister in just over a year.
Lecornu was originally a conservative before he joined Macron’s centrist movement in 2017. He has served in local governments, managed overseas territories, and played a key role during Macron’s yellow vest “great debate.” During this time, he helped address public outrage by promoting dialogue. He also proposed discussions on autonomy during the unrest in Guadeloupe in 2021.
Rewarding Loyalty
Macron's decision to appoint Lecornu reflects his tendency to reward loyalty. However, it also indicates the need for consistency, as the country has been experiencing frequent changes in leadership due to budget conflicts.
Prior to Lecornu's appointment, the country was poised for a day of major disruption due to a protest movement known as ‘’Block Everything’’. This led the government to deploy an extraordinary 80,000 police officers to maintain order.
The Challenge Ahead
France's previous prime minister, François Bayrou, and his government were ousted in a confidence vote on Monday. This development marked a new crisis for Europe’s second-largest economy. Bayrou had hoped that legislators would support his belief that France needs to cut public expenditure to control its massive debts. However, they took the vote as an opportunity to oppose the 74-year-old centrist, who was appointed by Macron last year.
The fall of Bayrou’s brief minority government signals a period of uncertainty and potential legislative stalemate for France. The country is currently grappling with a range of issues, including budget constraints and international conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as changing priorities from U.S. President Donald Trump.
A Budget Plan in Focus
One of Lecornu's main tasks will be to draft a budget. Generally, a new prime minister would form a new government before discussing national spending plans in Parliament. However, Macron has asked Lecornu to consult with all political parties in Parliament first to try to agree on a budget before assembling his team.
Macron stated that Lecornu's actions as prime minister will be driven by the defense of France's independence and power, serving the French people and maintaining political and institutional stability for the unity of the country.
Previous Roles
When the yellow vest movement against social injustice broke out, leading to months of occasionally violent protests, Lecornu was chosen by Macron to lead the so-called “great debate” across the country to soothe tensions.
As a minister of oversea territories from 2020 to 2022, Lecornu managed virus-related riots and strikes in Guadeloupe, a Caribbean island. He proposed discussions on some level of autonomy for this territory, which has been facing long-standing dissatisfaction over inequality with the French mainland.
Defense Spending Package
Lecornu championed a defense spending package of 413 billion euros ($435 billion) for 2024-2030, representing the most significant spending increase in France in fifty years. The funds are intended to modernize France’s nuclear arsenal, increase intelligence spending, and develop more remote-controlled weapons.