Lecornu explains reappointment as French prime minister
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced his surprise reappointment just days after French President Emmanuel Macron announced his resignation.
Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, took office as prime minister just four weeks ago but resigned on Monday amid tensions in the government, plunging France into a new political crisis.
But his return was confirmed on Friday after Macron tasked him with holding last-ditch talks with political opponents to find a way forward after months of instability in Paris.
According to the French constitution, next year’s new budget must be presented to parliament by a prime minister by Monday.
“I have no other aim than to get us out of this situation, which is objectively very difficult for everyone,” Lecornu said in the Paris suburb of L’Haÿ-les-Roses on Saturday.
“So I give myself a pretty clear mandate,” he said, referring to the budget deadline.
“Then either the political forces will help me on this and we will work together, or they won’t.”
“It’s about how do we ensure that there is a social security budget, a state budget, on December 31st.”
Lecornu criticized the political deadlock gripping the country.
“What is ridiculous is the spectacle that the entire political world has been putting on for several days,” he said.
The Prime Minister called on political parties to overcome their differences and pass a budget by the end of the year; this was an important step in containing France’s widening fiscal deficit.
“It’s about how do we ensure that there is a social security budget, a state budget, on December 31st.”
Lecornu must submit a draft budget bill by Monday; first to the cabinet and then to the parliament on the same day.
This means that at least ministers responsible for finance, budget and social security must be appointed by that date.
France has been mired in political stalemate since early elections in mid-2024, in which no camp remained in the majority.
While a left-wing alliance with the most seats has emerged, Macron has steadfastly refused to work with progressives and nominated a series of centrist and conservative prime ministers who have proven unable to form a majority in parliament.
Lecornu hinted over the weekend that he might turn to progressives as he faces the task of quickly assembling a cabinet.
via Reuters
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