Macron Unveils New Cabinet as France Faces Budget Crisis
The French presidency announced Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s new cabinet on Sunday, keeping most top positions unchanged despite growing pressure from opposition parties demanding a political shift to support urgent budget talks.
Lecornu, reappointed prime minister last week after a short 27-day tenure earlier this year, had promised a team of “renewal and diversity.” However, his new lineup largely mirrors his previous cabinet, with most key figures retaining their posts.
Opposition Challenges Loom
It remains uncertain whether Lecornu’s appointments will satisfy opponents. The far-left France Unbowed (LFI) and the far-right National Rally both announced plans to file no-confidence motions on Monday, setting up a tense parliamentary showdown later this week.
The Socialist Party, whose backing could prove decisive, has yet to commit. “No comment,” Socialist leader Olivier Faure posted on X after the cabinet announcement.
Key Appointments and Allies Retained
Lecornu reappointed Roland Lescure, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, as finance minister. The new government must soon present its 2025 budget proposal, which faces a difficult path through a divided parliament already positioning for the 2027 presidential race.
Jean-Noel Barrot remains foreign minister, while Gerald Darmanin continues as justice minister. “A single imperative guides my decisions: to serve France,” Darmanin said on X, adding that he would step back from partisan activities.
New Faces in the Cabinet
The most notable change is Laurent Nunez, Paris’s police chief, who becomes interior minister, replacing Bruno Retailleau, leader of the conservative Republicans Party. Nunez, a graduate of the École Nationale d’Administration, previously led the DGSI domestic intelligence agency and oversaw security during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Other changes include Catherine Vautrin, a veteran of the center-right, who replaces Lecornu as defense minister, and Edouard Geffray, a senior civil servant, who takes over as education minister, succeeding former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.
Budget Pressure Intensifies
Lecornu met with Macron on Sunday evening to finalize the lineup before the president’s departure for Egypt, where he is attending talks on the Gaza conflict. The budget proposal must be presented by Wednesday to meet constitutional deadlines.
France continues to face one of its deepest political crises in decades, with minority governments struggling to pass deficit-reduction measures through a fragmented parliament split into three rival blocs.
Lecornu, aware of the fragile situation, said he would not hesitate to resign again if conditions became “untenable.” “If the circumstances change, I’ll leave,” he told La Tribune Dimanche.
Policy Challenges Ahead
The Socialists are calling for the reversal of Macron’s pension reform and the reintroduction of a wealth tax, both fiercely opposed by conservatives. Lecornu hinted at compromise, saying on Saturday that “all debates are possible as long as they remain realistic.”
If the government fails to win approval for the new budget, emergency funding measures may be required to keep the state running from January 1 until a full budget passes.
