French President Emmanuel Macron has named Sebastien Lecornu as prime minister, maintaining his pro-business agenda amid ongoing political instability. Lecornu’s immediate challenge will be to build consensus on the 2026 budget.
Lecornu, 39, a former conservative ally who supported Macron's 2017 presidential campaign, reflects the president's commitment to continuing his pro-business economic reforms. These reforms, which have included tax cuts for businesses and the wealthy as well as raising the retirement age, will remain central to Macron's agenda.
Macron was compelled to name his fifth prime minister in under two years after parliament removed François Bayrou, who had served for just nine months, due to his unpopular proposals to address France's growing debt. By choosing Lecornu, Macron risks alienating the centre-left Socialist Party, leaving his government reliant on Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally for parliamentary support.
Lecornu’s immediate challenge will be to build consensus on the 2026 budget, a task that contributed to Bayrou’s downfall. Bayrou’s push for aggressive spending cuts to reduce a deficit nearly double the EU's 3% GDP ceiling failed to gain traction.
The ongoing political crisis in France is exacerbating the country's economic difficulties, as it sinks deeper into debt. Lecornu’s appointment comes at a time of rising public dissatisfaction, with polls indicating voters are calling for change. Plans for nationwide "Block Everything" protests on Wednesday signal potential disruption.
Previously, Lecornu served as Macron’s defence minister, overseeing an increase in defence spending and contributing to shaping European security policy, particularly regarding Ukraine. His political career began at 16 when he canvassed for former President Nicolas Sarkozy, and by 22, he was the youngest government adviser in Sarkozy’s administration. After leaving the conservative Les Républicains party, Lecornu joined Macron’s centrist movement in 2017 and later ran Macron's re-election campaign in 2022.
By appointing Lecornu, Macron appears intent on protecting his economic legacy, particularly against the Socialist Party’s promises to reverse some of his key pro-business policies, such as the scrapping of the wealth tax and raising the retirement age. Lecornu has also had occasional meetings with Le Pen and her party chief, Jordan Bardella, with reports suggesting that the National Rally may offer tacit support to Lecornu if he becomes prime minister. However, the National Rally has made it clear that they will not tolerate tax hikes on the working population.
Georgia’s busiest sea gateway has reached its capacity limit, adding urgency to plans for a major expansion of Poti port as the country seeks...
Overnight Iranian strikes on an air base in Jordan damaged multiple U.S. aircraft and left one without a wing, American media reported. Meanwhile, ...
Saudi Arabia’s outbound travel market could surge from around $35 billion to more than $60 billion by 2030-2034, driven by a young generation...
Four people were killed, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to the governor of the Krasnodar region. Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said Russian military ships were destroyed in the attacks.
Wildfires have broken out in Türkiye’s Antalya province, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate as strong winds fuelled the flames.
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, drones hit civilian infrastructure in Russia's southwestern Saratov region.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly launched two ballistic missile attacks against a U.S. Navy warship over the past two days.
Overnight Iranian strikes on an air base in Jordan damaged multiple U.S. aircraft and left one without a wing, American media reported. Meanwhile, explosions were heard across parts of southern Iran according to local media reports.
Ukrainian forces struck a Russian oil refinery in Siberia and a seaport in Dagestan in the past 24 hours, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. He will meet Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday to discuss air defences for Ukraine over winter.
Eight Muslim-majority countries have launched a joint push for wider international action against trade linked to Israeli settlements, seeking to build momentum from new measures announced by the UK and other Western governments.
Saudi Arabia is facing a problem that goes beyond the latest Houthi attacks on its southern oil facilities. The kingdom is now dealing with pressure on energy exports at the Strait of Hormuz to the east and the Red Sea route to the west.
Two Azerbaijani sailors were killed on Wednesday when a foreign cargo ship they were travelling on was attacked by drones in the Black Sea, Baku's Foreign Ministry has said.
Iceland’s government plans to introduce legislation in February to permanently ban commercial whaling, potentially leaving Norway and Japan as the world’s only countries still allowing the practice.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment