New French Prime Minister promises “profound changes” to pull France out of crisis

The new French Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, promised today "profound changes" and "not just superficial ones" to get France out of the political and social crisis, during the transfer of power ceremony in Matignon (government headquarters).

"We must succeed in putting an end to this double fracture: the fracture between the political situation and the fracture with what our fellow citizens legitimately expect in their daily lives," Lecornu said in a brief speech after the transition ceremony, on a day marked by social protests in several French cities.

After praising the “extraordinary courage” of his predecessor, centrist François Bayrou, who was ousted on Monday after a parliamentary confidence vote was rejected, Lecornu promised to be “more creative” and “more serious in the way he works with the opposition.”

Furthermore, the new head of government, appointed on Tuesday night by French President Emmanuel Macron, assured that he will receive the political forces “in the coming days” and that “there are no impossible paths”, despite the outgoing government coalition having lost its majority in the National Assembly.

The 39-year-old former Macronist Defense Minister and former member of the center-right Republicans (LR) party, who has been part of every government team since June 2017, also promised to "break with the past" and "be more serious in the way we work with the opposition."

"This afternoon, I will meet with the main political forces and, in the coming days, with the other political and trade union forces, and I will have the opportunity to address the French people soon," he concluded in his brief speech, which was also attended by some ministers from the outgoing government.

Bayrou, who is leaving Matignon, assured that he intends to "help the Government" that will be formed by the new Prime Minister, in this "very difficult" moment, "very demanding and dangerous" for France.

To exist, the future French government must obtain at least a vote of no censure from the Socialist Party, something essential to adopt a budget for 2026, the preparation of which has just brought down the outgoing team, which had presented a plan of cuts of almost 44 billion euros.

Lecornu is the fourth prime minister that French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed in just 12 months, after Gabriel Attal (2024), Michel Barnier (2024) and Bayrou (2024-2025), taking office on a day marked by national protests promoted by the social movement “Block Everything!” and nine days before another day of strikes and stoppages, organized by the unions and supported by left-wing parties.

More than 200 people were arrested in France today in law enforcement operations to prevent blockades, mainly on highways and transport infrastructure, on a day when a total lockdown was planned in opposition to the government's measures.