French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a new government after reappointing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, just days before the deadline to present France’s 2026 draft budget to parliament. The reshuffle comes amid ongoing political tensions and efforts to stabilize the administration before key financial decisions.
The changes follow a week of turmoil in Paris, during which Lecornu briefly resigned before being reinstated by Macron. The president’s move is seen as an attempt to restore political balance and ensure the smooth passage of the upcoming budget.
In the new cabinet, Jean-Noël Barrot continues as foreign minister, while Catherine Vautrin, the former labour minister, takes over the defence portfolio. Roland Lescure, a close ally of Macron, has been appointed as the new economy minister. Other appointments include Laurent Nunez, Paris’s former police chief, who replaces Bruno Retailleau as interior minister, and Monique Barbut, a well-known environmental advocate, who becomes environment minister. Gérald Darmanin stays on as justice minister, and Rachida Dati retains her post as culture minister despite facing a corruption trial next year.
Prime Minister Lecornu described the new administration as a “mission-based government,” focused primarily on preparing and presenting the national budget before the end of the year. He thanked his cabinet members for prioritizing national interests over personal and political differences.
Lecornu faces a challenging task in securing parliamentary approval, as the right-wing Republicans (LR) have declined to join the coalition but promised limited cooperation. Opposition parties, including the Socialists, have warned they may challenge the new government unless it rethinks austerity plans and pension reforms that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64.
The reshuffle comes at a critical time for Macron’s presidency. His government is under pressure from the European Union to cut public debt, while domestic opposition grows over spending cuts and unpopular economic measures. With France’s political landscape deeply divided, Lecornu’s reinstatement represents Macron’s last major effort to pass the national budget before the year ends.
The president has yet to make a public statement following the reshuffle. He is scheduled to visit Egypt on Monday to discuss a potential Gaza ceasefire, which could delay the official presentation of the draft budget to parliament.
