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French Prime Minister S\u00e9bastien Lecornu on Saturday explained his surprise reappointment by French President Emmanuel Macron, just days after he announced his resignation.<\/p>\n
Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, took office as prime minister just four weeks ago but resigned on Monday amid government tensions, plunging France into a further political crisis.<\/p>\n
But his return was confirmed on Friday after he was tasked by Macron with holding last-ditch talks with political opponents to find a path forward after months of instability in Paris.<\/p>\n
Under the French constitution, a new budget for the coming year must be submitted to parliament by a prime minister by Monday at the latest.<\/p>\n
“I have no other ambition than to get us out of this situation, which is objectively very difficult for everyone,” said Lecornu in the Paris suburb of L’Ha\u00ff-les-Roses on Saturday.<\/p>\n
“So I give myself a pretty clear task,” he said, referring to the budget deadline. “And then either the political forces help me with it and we work together – or they don’t.”<\/p>\n
France has been mired in political deadlock since a snap election in mid-2024, which left no camp with a majority.<\/p>\n
While a left-wing alliance emerged with the most seats, Macron has steadfastly refused to work with the left, nominating a series of centrist and conservative prime ministers that have proven unable to build parliamentary majorities.<\/p>\n
Lecornu must now put together a Cabinet quickly over the weekend and has hinted that he could turn to the left.<\/p>\n
“I think we need a government that also reflects parliamentary reality. That is essential, that is democracy.”<\/p>\n
The government is already facing a vote of no confidence from the opposition at the beginning of the week. This means that Lecornu and his future government team could be toppled as soon as Thursday.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n