French PM Lecornu resignation and reappointment

France has just witnessed one of its most dramatic political weeks in recent memory, capped by the surprise resignation and rapid reappointment of Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister. Having served only 26 days before stepping down (making his tenure the shortest in the history of the Fifth Republic) Lecornu’s return has sparked widespread debate on the stability of President Macron’s administration and the broader challenges facing French democracy.

The resignation and turmoil:

Lecornu’s resignation on 6th October came as a shock, coming just hours after he unveiled his new cabinet. His brief time in office was marked by intense backlash from multiple parties, especially over cabinet choices, and a sense of imminent crisis in Parliament. The immediate political fallout included plunging stock prices (CAC 40 index dropping more than 1.3%, according to Reuters) and open calls from opposition parties for snap elections or an entirely new government. Macron, aiming to hold things together, asked Lecornu to stay on temporarily in a caretaker role, giving him 48 hours to negotiate a “stability plan" with rivals, though hopes for compromise seemed slim.

The reappointment:

On 10th October, Macron announced Lecornu’s reappointment as Prime Minister. The decision was met with surprise, especially since Lecornu had declared his “mission over” just days prior. Tasked with forming a new government and delivering the next budget to Parliament, Lecornu now faces daunting challenges: a fractured National Assembly, open hostility from opposition figures, and public skepticism about whether another reshuffle can provide stability. Critics from both left and right have described the move as illogical. Marine Le Pen even called for immediate new elections.

On the evening of the 12th October, Lecornu named his new government consisting of 34 ministers. This includes members who served in previous governments and civil servants. Appointees include: Paris police chief Laurent Nunez, now serving as Interior Minister, former Labour Minister Catherine Vautrin, now serving as Defence Minister, and the previous Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot will maintain his position. Shortly after announcing the new cabinet, on the 16th October Lecornu’s government survived two no-confidence votes, the first by the far-left party La France Insoumise and the second by Marine Le Pen’s far right party.

Closing sentence: 

One week into his new cabinet, Lecornu has already faced two votes of no confidence, a challenging 2026 fiscal budget, and a splintered National Assembly which his party does not have a majority. Does he have what it takes to make it to the end of the Macron government in 2027?

Sources:

BBC. (2025, October 11). Macron re-appoints Lecornu as French PM after days of turmoil. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy4j9zz54ypo

CNN. (2025, October 10). France: Lecornu/Macron political turmoil [Europe]. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/10/europe/france-lecornu-macron-political-turmoil-latam-intl

Al Jazeera. (2025, October 10). France’s Macron re-appoints Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/10/10/frances-macron-re-appoints-sebastien-lecornu-as-prime-minister

The New York Times. (2025, October 8). France: Lecornu. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/world/europe/france-lecornu.html

Reuters. (2025, October 6). French markets, euro battered as government collapses. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/french-markets-euro-battered-government-collapses-2025-10-06/

Reuters. (2025, October 16). French PM faces day of reckoning, likely to survive no-confidence votes. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/french-pm-faces-day-reckoning-likely-survive-no-confidence-votes-2025-10-16/

Politico Europe. (2025, October [day unspecified]). French government: Sébastien Lecornu survives no-confidence votes. Politico EU. https://www.politico.eu/article/french-government-sebastien-lecornu-survives-no-confidence-votes/

Euronews. (2025, October 12). Reappointed French prime minister Sébastien Lecornu names new cabinet after meeting with Macron. Euronews. https://www.euronews.com/2025/10/12/reappointed-french-prime-minister-sebastien-lecornu-names-new-cabinet-after-meeting-with-m

BBC. (2025). Live: France political developments. BBC News. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cp8y7e59d8gt