France’s Political Crisis Deepens as Reappointed PM Lecornu Faces Budget Deadline

Reappointed French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has urged rival parties to unite and end what he called the “ridiculous spectacle” of political gridlock, as he races to present a national budget by Monday. Lecornu, reinstated by President Emmanuel Macron after resigning just days earlier, faces a divided parliament and mounting frustration over France’s worsening fiscal deficit.

Macron’s decision to reappoint Lecornu has sparked outrage among opposition leaders, who demand either a new legislative election or Macron’s resignation. Despite criticism, Lecornu emphasized the urgency of passing a state and social security budget by December 31, warning that France’s credibility is at stake. He appealed for cooperation from lawmakers across the political spectrum, saying, “Either the political forces will help me, or they will not.”

The reappointment follows Lecornu’s record-short 27-day tenure as prime minister — the briefest in modern French history. His previous resignation stemmed from the inability to form a government capable of passing the 2025 budget through a deeply fractured National Assembly. Now, even with a second chance, Lecornu faces stiff opposition from leftist, far-left, and far-right parties that have vowed to topple his administration.

Adding to the uncertainty, Lecornu has yet to name his cabinet, though he must appoint key finance and social security ministers by Monday to submit the budget bill. The conservative Les Républicains and centrist UDI parties have declined to join his government but pledged conditional support for essential legislation.

Lecornu aims to reduce France’s fiscal deficit to between 4.7% and 5% of GDP in 2025, slightly higher than his predecessor’s 4.6% target. The deficit currently stands at 5.4%. While he has hinted at flexibility over contentious pension reforms, he remains under pressure from the Socialist Party to consider repealing Macron’s reform and introducing a wealth tax on billionaires.