Sébastien Lecornu Appointed as New Prime Minister of France Following Bayrou's Resignation

Sébastien Lecornu, formerly the Minister of the Armed Forces, has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of France by President Emmanuel Macron on the evening of September 9, 2025. This appointment follows the resignation of François Bayrou. Lecornu, 39, is tasked with consulting political parties to build necessary agreements for upcoming decisions, including the adoption of the national budget. He will take over from Bayrou in a handover ceremony at Matignon on Wednesday at noon. The transition coincides with a planned nationwide protest. Lecornu, an established figure in government since 2017, previously served in a highly sensitive role as the Minister of the Armed Forces. He thanks Macron for the confidence shown in him and also acknowledges François Bayrou for his courage. Lecornu becomes Emmanuel Macron's seventh Prime Minister and the fifth since the start of his second term in 2022. The frequent change in Prime Ministers is unprecedented in the Fifth Republic, which is now facing a significant crisis since the dissolution of the National Assembly in June 2024.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a no-confidence vote in parliament, with 364 MPs voting against him and 194 in support. This collapse of the government follows his attempt to push through an unpopular €44 billion savings plan, which included cutting two public holidays and freezing government spending. Bayrou will step down after only nine months in office, similar to his predecessor Michel Barnier, who also lost a no-confidence vote last December. The Élysée Palace will appoint a new prime minister soon, but President Macron faces limited options. Bayrou warned lawmakers that while they can bring down the government, they cannot change the reality of rising expenses and growing, unsustainable debt, and emphasized the broken social contract with younger generations. Macron's decision to call a snap election in 2024, following the National Rally's strong performance in the European Parliament elections, backfired, resulting in a fragmented parliament. Potential candidates for the new prime minister include Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, but the role is seen as challenging due to the opposition from far-right and far-left parties, who have indicated they would call for a no-confidence vote if another centrist prime minister is appointed.