French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a new government in a bid to end France’s ongoing political deadlock, but opposition parties have already vowed to challenge it. The reshuffle follows the appointment of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who now faces the difficult task of securing cooperation in a deeply divided parliament.
Lecornu named Roland Lescure, a longtime Macron ally with past ties to the Socialist Party, as the new finance minister — a move seen as an attempt to win left-wing support ahead of tense budget negotiations. However, the hard-left France Unbowed party immediately declared plans to file a no-confidence motion, calling the new lineup a continuation of unpopular policies.
Lecornu’s leadership faces an early test when he presents his policy agenda in parliament, where Macron’s centrist minority must balance competing demands from the far right, conservatives, and the left. The government’s survival may depend on its ability to navigate these divisions while addressing France’s mounting fiscal deficit, the largest in the eurozone.
Former finance minister Bruno Le Maire has been appointed defence minister, while Jean-Noël Barrot, Bruno Retailleau, and Gérald Darmanin will retain their positions at foreign, interior, and justice ministries respectively. Despite calls from opponents for a presidential election, Macron has rejected the idea, insisting his focus remains on governance and fiscal reform.