Lecornu scrambles to build government as France faces budget showdown

France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is racing to finalise a cabinet and pass the 2026 budget after returning to power just days after resigning, in what has become the most unstable political chapter of Emmanuel Macron’s presidency.

Sébastien Lecornu has been reappointed as Prime Minister of France after his brief resignation last week, returning to office under mounting political and economic pressure. His first government collapsed after less than a month, forcing President Emmanuel Macron to recall him to lead a new cabinet tasked with delivering the 2026 budget.

Lecornu’s second cabinet, announced on Sunday, keeps several key ministers in place while making strategic changes in security and defence. Roland Lescure remains at Finance, Jean-Noël Barrot continues at Foreign Affairs, and Gérald Darmanin stays on as Justice Minister. Catherine Vautrin takes over the Defence portfolio, while Laurent Nuñez, former head of the Paris police, replaces Bruno Retailleau at the Interior Ministry. The reshuffle aims to stabilise a government still facing parliamentary paralysis.

The new administration has only days to submit the draft budget to meet constitutional deadlines. The Finance Ministry is expected to finalise spending proposals by midweek, a process complicated by political gridlock and economic headwinds. Failure to present the budget on time could trigger a …

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