Macron Announces a New Government in an Effort to Overcome the Political Crisis

French president Emmanuel Macron has unveiled a new government in an effort to pull the country out of a political crisis. The opposition has already warned it will seek his removal if the cabinet fails to depart from past policies.

The announcement came nearly a month after Sébastien Lecornu was appointed prime minister, seeking to secure cross-party support in a deeply divided parliament. Lecornu–Macron’s seventh prime minister–named Roland Lescure, a close ally of the president who briefly belonged to the Socialist Party early in his career, as finance minister.

The appointment, made on Sunday, was seen as a gesture toward the left ahead of delicate budget negotiations. Yet left-wing lawmakers were unimpressed: the France Unbowed party said it would immediately submit a no-confidence motion.

The first major test for the 39-year-old Lecornu will come on Tuesday, when he is set to outline the government’s policy agenda. Budget talks have grown increasingly fraught, demanding compromises among three ideologically opposed blocs–Macron’s centrist minority, the far right and the left–that could topple the government if they unite.

Two of his predecessors, François Bayrou and Michel Barnier, lost their posts after parliamentary defeats linked to attempts to cut public spending at a time when rating agencies and investors are closely watching France’s budget deficit–the largest in the eurozone.

Lecornu said he understood the calls for political renewal after eight years of Macron’s rule. His opponents, however, see the new cabinet as nothing more than a continuation of the old course.

"We made it clear to the prime minister: either a break with the past or a vote of no confidence," wrote Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally, on X. "The government announced this evening embodies pure continuity and has nothing to do with the change the French people are demanding."

Left-wing lawmaker Éric Coquerel of France Unbowed added: "For the third time since the July 2024 elections, Emmanuel Macron is imposing on the country a cabinet of losers and a course rejected by the voters."

Former finance minister Bruno Le Maire, who oversaw France’s crisis spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, has taken over as defense minister. He will now be responsible for shaping France’s stance on strengthening European security at a time when U.S. president Donald Trump is pressing the European Union to step up its support for Ukraine.

Several key ministers have retained their posts: Jean-Noël Barrot remains foreign minister, Bruno Retailleau stays at the interior ministry, and Gérald Darmanin continues as justice minister.

Members of France Unbowed have again called for a presidential election—a demand Macron firmly rejects.

Lescure faces a difficult task: to secure at least the Socialists’ neutrality while maintaining Macron’s pro-business line and keeping the support of conservatives and liberals. The French-Canadian, who previously held a senior position at Natixis Asset Management, must also take into account the far right’s sensitivity to fiscal policy, given their readiness to once again try to bring down the government.

In an effort to win over the Socialists, Lecornu proposed introducing a wealth tax long demanded by the left and pledged not to use special constitutional procedures to pass the budget without a vote. The Socialists, however, consider these concessions insufficient.

"Without a change in policy, the Socialists will vote against the government," said party secretary Pierre Jouvet on BFM TV.