France’s reappointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced a new Cabinet of 34 ministers, tasked with producing a national budget before the end of the year amid mounting political and economic pressures.
The Cabinet, slightly smaller than the previous 36-member government under former Prime Minister François Bayrou, includes a mix of experienced officials, centrist allies of President Emmanuel Macron, conservatives, and some figures from outside the political sphere.
Key appointments include Laurent Nunez as interior minister, overseeing national security; Catherine Vautrin as defence minister, responsible for military support for Ukraine and European security; and Roland Lescure as finance minister, charged with tackling rising debt and poverty. Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, and Culture Minister Rachida Dati retain their positions.
Lecornu, 39, is Macron’s fourth prime minister in a year and a close ally of the president. He faces an immediate challenge: securing parliamentary support in a deeply fractured National Assembly, where centrist, far-right, and far-left factions hold significant influence. Opposition parties, including Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s France Unbowed, are pressing for new elections or Macron’s resignation, while key conservative allies have expressed discontent, expelling six party members who joined the Cabinet.
The new government follows a period of intense political uncertainty. Lecornu initially formed a Cabinet last week but resigned hours later after a coalition protest, before being reappointed by Macron. He has acknowledged the difficulties of governing a country divided over pension reforms and other contentious policies.
President Macron’s controversial pension reform, which gradually raises the retirement age from 62 to 64, remains a flashpoint. Opposition parties are demanding its repeal, adding to the pressure on Lecornu’s new Cabinet.
The government’s first Cabinet meeting is expected on Tuesday. Barrot will accompany Macron to Egypt on Monday for an international ceremony marking the Gaza ceasefire, signalling France’s continued engagement in global affairs despite domestic instability.
With an urgent budget to deliver and deep political divisions to navigate, Lecornu’s new government faces a critical test in maintaining stability and reassuring businesses, investors, and international partners.
Up to 30 tonnes of food will be delivered to Iran amidst ongoing hostilities with U.S. and Israel, following a phone converstation between the ...
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran e...
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israe...
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientif...
A senior delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has been holding meetings with Georgian government offici...
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
The Strait of Hormuz has become a focal point of global concern as tensions rise following the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel. Tehran has threatened to block the strategic waterway, raising fears of disruption to global oil shipments and energy markets.
Reports of so-called “acid clouds” moving from Iran towards Central Asia are not supported by scientific data, national hydrometeorological services in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan say, adding there is no threat to the region.
A senior delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly has been holding meetings with Georgian government officials, opposition leaders and security authorities this week, as international observers attempt to gauge the country’s political climate following last year’s contentious elections.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is a hardline cleric with strong backing from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His rise signals continuity in Tehran's anti-Western policies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
Welcome to our live coverage as the conflict involving Iran enters its 11th day. Tensions in the region remain high as the United States and Iran exchange increasingly sharp warnings over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment