Macron rehires Lecornu with ‘carte blanche’ to pass budget

French President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister just days after Lecornu announced his resignation amid political turmoil. Macron has given Lecornu “carte blanche” to do whatever is necessary to pass the national budget and stabilize the government. Lecornu emphasized the need to end the ongoing political crisis, urging all factions in the National Assembly to focus on debating and passing the budget rather than pursuing political ambitions for leadership positions. Though, the right-wing National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, has already declared its opposition to cooperating with Macron’s government. Lecornu may resort to using Article 49.3 of the French Constitution, a controversial legal measure that allows the government to pass legislation without a parliamentary vote, to circumvent opposition. Despite political instability and calls for Macron’s resignation, the president has vowed to complete his term ending in 2027.


Macron drags Lecornu back into office with ‘carte blanche’ to pass a budget

Meet the new prime minister, same as the old prime minister.

French President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as head of the French government less than a week after the beleaguered politician announced his resignation.

This time, the president is giving Lecornu “carte blanche” to do whatever is necessary to pass a budget.

“The president of the Republic has appointed Mr. Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister and tasked him with forming a government,” the Élysée Palace announced Friday evening without further elaboration.

French outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu gives a statement on the sidelines of his talks with political parties’ leaders in a bid to form a coalition government, able to pass an austerity budget through parliament, at the Hotel Matignon in Paris on Oct. 8, 2025. (Photo by STEPHANIE LECOCQ/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

“I accept — out of duty — the mission entrusted to me by the president,” the prime minister said in a trepidatious statement following the announcement. “We must put an end to this political crisis that exasperates the French people and to this instability that is harmful to France’s image and its interests.”

Lecornu offered a short list of “necessary conclusions” based on conversations he held with various party leaders throughout the past weeks.

Specifically, Lecornu demands that all issues currently dividing the National Assembly into three factions be brought to parliamentary debate.

“Deputies and senators will be able to take on their responsibilities, and the debates must be seen through to the end,” he wrote in his statement.

Additionally, Lecornu demands that all factions within the National Assembly put aside their political aspirations for the offices of prime minister and president until the budget is comprehensively addressed.

The right-wing National Rally — currently leading in French political polls — has already signaled no interest in cooperation.

“I vote against everything,” National Rally leader Marine Le Pen said Wednesday, vowing to oppose any prime minister Macron puts forward.

French right-wing leader Marine Le Pen listens to the speech of French Prime Minister François Bayrou at the National Assembly, prior to a parliamentary confidence vote that could bring him down, in Paris, France, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

“The problem with our political leaders today is that they get on the horse not to go somewhere, but for a rodeo,” Le Pen told supporters at a livestock fair this week, claiming the government’s mentality is instead “how long can I hold on while the horse tries to throw me off?”

One option remains open to Lecornu to circumvent the political turmoil of the broken National Assembly: Article 49.3.

The constitutional article empowers the government to pass legislation through the National Assembly, the lower chamber of the French Parliament, without putting it to a vote.

It is a legally legitimate tool of the national government, but lawmakers have scorned it for decades because they accuse it of running contrary to democratic rule.

Intentions to use Article 49.3 are often met with threats of a no-confidence vote to depose the prime minister, but after four failed heads of government in the last year, the threat of yet another no-confidence vote is losing its venom.

MACRON FACES GRIM DECISION AS CALLS FOR SNAP ELECTION AND RESIGNATION ABOUND

As the elected president, Macron is under no threat of being forced out of office. He has promised to see out his final term, which is set to expire in 2027.

That has not stopped his critics from calling on him to resign, claiming the chaos of the current government threatens to undermine the credibility of his centrist party, Renaissance.



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