By Euronews
Published on
•Updated
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France’s newly re-appointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu named a new government Sunday, as he faces pressure to urgently produce a budget and quell political turmoil.
Lecornu’s second government in the space of one month was formalised with 34 ministers on Sunday night. The Cabinet includes several members who served in previous governments, from Macron’s centrist camp and allied conservatives, as well as a few people from outside the political sphere.
Among the new appointments is former Labour Minister Catherine Vautrin, now serving as Defence Minister, tasked with overseeing France’s military support for Ukraine and responding to security threats from Russia.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez, who managed security during the 2024 Olympics, becomes Interior Minister, responsible for national security. Roland Lescure takes over as Finance Minister, a key role as France seeks to draft a budget addressing rising debt and poverty.
Those retaining their positions include Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who will accompany President Macron to Egypt on Monday for an international ceremony marking the Gaza ceasefire.
Right after the president’s office unveiled the new Cabinet, the conservative Republicans party said it would expel the six members who had agreed to join the government. In a social media post on X, far-right leader Marine Le Pen said they will be calling for a vote of no confidence against the government on Monday.
France’s hard-left France Unbowed also warned the new government in a post on X, leader Mathilde Panot said “A piece of advice for newcomers: don’t unpack your boxes too quickly…Censorship is coming.”
Sebastien Lecornu was reappointed prime minister on Friday and has been working to quickly appoint key cabinet members before Monday’s budget deadline.
“A mission-driven government has been appointed to provide France with a budget before the end of the year,” the French PM wrote on X, thanking the women and men “who are freely committed to this government, regardless of personal or partisan interests”.
“Only one thing matters: the interests of the country,” he wrote.
The transfers of power will be “sober, without press and without guests,” said the Prime Minister office.
