President Emmanuel Macron has requested Sébastien Lecornu to reassume the role of French Prime Minister, just four days after Lecornu previously resigned from the position. The announcement was made following a meeting at the Élysée Palace with leaders from the main political parties, excluding those from the far right and far left.
Lecornu’s return was unexpected, especially since he had stated just two days prior that he was not “chasing the job” and believed his “mission is over.” There remains uncertainty regarding his ability to form a government, as he faces an impending deadline to present next year’s budget to parliament by the following Monday.
The Élysée has stated that Lecornu has been tasked with forming a government, with Macron’s inner circle indicating he has received “carte blanche” to proceed. In response, Lecornu publicly accepted the task via a statement on X, asserting his commitment to delivering a budget by the year’s end and addressing the ongoing issues faced by the populace.
Political friction surrounding strategies to reduce France’s national debt and budget deficit has contributed to the resignations of two of the last three Prime Ministers in the past year, which poses significant challenges for Lecornu. Compounding these difficulties, he will encounter a vote of confidence in the National Assembly, where Macron’s party lacks a majority. Recent polling indicates that Macron’s approval ratings have plummeted to a record low of 14%.
Additionally, Lecornu emphasized the necessity for all involved in his government to prioritize public finance restoration, warning that any personal presidential ambitions would need to be temporarily set aside, especially with only 18 months remaining in Macron’s presidency.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4j9zz54ypo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss