French President Emmanuel Macron abruptly installed defense minister Sebastien Lecornu as the new prime minister on September 9, after Francois Bayrou’s coalition government fell apart over austerity measures and anticipated economic crisis.
New Prime Minister Appointed
Macron named defense minister Sebastien Lecornu as the new French premier after Bayrou’s government resigned. The appointment came just hours after Bayrou submitted his resignation, prompting immediate political turmoil.
Bayrou’s Government and Austerity Measures
Bayrou’s government collapsed because of proposed budget cuts worth 44 billion euros, aimed at tackling France’s debt crisis at over 114% of GDP. Bayrou twice failed to secure parliamentary confidence in his budget proposals.
Lecornu’s Background
Lecornu, aged 39, has been closely associated with the centrist political spectrum. He was initially tipped as a replacement for Bayrou and previously held key diplomatic roles, including overseeing France’s response to Russian aggression in Ukraine.