Lecornu’s comeback was as a major surprise following comments by him on Wednesday that he was not “chasing the job” and that his “mission is over.”
ADVERTISEMENT
French President Emmanuel Macron re-appointed outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, in a shock move that brought an end to days of speculation and intense negotiations aimed at resolving the country's deepening political stalemate.
Just days after Lecornu abruptly resigned on Monday, Macron is now asking him to once again try again to form a government.
It remains unclear whether Lecornu will be able to form a fully functioning government, but he faces immense pressure from the outset - the new prime minister must present next year’s budget to parliament by Monday.
After saying yes to the role, Lecornu said on X, “I accept — out of duty — the mission entrusted to me by the President to do everything possible to deliver a budget for France by the end of the year and to respond to the everyday problems of our compatriots."
"It is necessary to put an end to this political crisis that exasperates the French and to this instability, which is harmful to France’s image and interests.”
The announcement on Friday evening followed final consultations with representatives from France's main political parties.
The head of state gathered party leaders at the Élysée Palace earlier in the day, with the exception of those from the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) and the far-right National Rally (RN).
The Élysée said earlier in the day that the meeting had to be "a moment of collective responsibility."
The appointment marks a crucial moment in Macron's presidency, which runs until 2027.
With no majority in the National Assembly and growing criticism from both the opposition and within his own ranks, Macron has little room to manoeuvre politically.
The crisis escalated earlier this week when Lecornu abruptly resigned on Monday, just hours after announcing his new cabinet.
His shock departure led to renewed calls from opposition figures for Macron to resign himself or call for snap elections yet again.
The turmoil traces back to Macron's surprise decision in June 2024 to dissolve the National Assembly. The ensuing snap elections resulted in a hung parliament, leaving no political bloc with a majority.
The new prime minister now faces the daunting task of navigating that same fractured landscape and passing next year's highly contentious budget plan.
The 2026 budget is an urgent matter for France as the deadline to submit it ends on Monday.