Meet Sebastien Lecornu, France’s 5th PM in under two years, greeted on first day with ‘Block Everything’ protests

Lecornu is the fifth Prime Minister in two years under Macron, whose second term in office has been shadowed by political instability.

The handover of the reins from Bayrou to Lecornu unfolded in the backdrop of the nationwide “Block Everything” protests, which unfolded as planned on Wednesday. Protestors took to the streets, disrupting traffic and even clashing with the police as they expressed their anger with the political class and planned budget cuts.

Who is Sébastien Lecornu?

Before his appointment, Lecornu, 39, was the youngest defence minister in French history, and the longest-serving sitting minister in Macron’s government since 2022.

He is a former conservative who joined Macron’s centrist party, Renaissance, in 2017. He has previously served as minister of local government and minister of overseas affairs.

When the yellow vest movement against social injustice erupted in 2018, Macron chose Lecornu to lead the countrywide “great debate” in a bid to defuse tensions. As defence minister, he championed a whopping €413 billion defence spending package for 2024-30, spurred by Russia’s war with Ukraine. The amount marks the most significant spending hike in the country in half a century, and among other things, aims to modernise France’s nuclear arsenal, augment intelligence spending and develop more remotely controlled weapons.

In appointing a loyalist, Macron has signalled his intent to maintain continuity as well as pursue his pro-business budget, which advocates for some austerity measures. However, the president risks alienating his voter base and spurring public discontent even as polls suggest that voters are losing faith in the country’s dysfunctional politics.

What triggered political instability?

The roots of the political crisis in France go back to June 2024, when Macron took a gamble and called snap parliamentary elections just two years after he was re-elected.

Macron made the decision following the bruising loss of his Renaissance party in the European Parliament vote, which had taken place earlier that year. The President hoped to achieve “a clear majority in serenity and harmony”.

However, the elections resulted in a hung, divided Parliament – the National Assembly – split among three groups. The left alliance, which won the most seats, fell far short of a majority. The far-right National Rally got the most votes, but did not have a majority. Macron’s centrist coalition lost seats, but it was a significant third bloc.

This situation has made it difficult for any Prime Minister to garner the necessary support to pass Bills and the yearly budget. Michel Barnier, who was appointed Prime Minister last September, lasted only three months until he was ousted over the budget.

Bayrou suffered a similar fate after merely nine months in the post. He argued that France’s debt crisis could be tackled only by slashing government spending to the tune of €44 billion.

The “Block Everything” protests, currently underway in France, unfolded out of this discontent. It is desribed as a grassroots revolt that protested fuel taxes and grew into a countrywide uprising against inequality, economic hardship and a political establishment seen as out of touch.

Nearly 200 people participating in the “Block Everything” protests were arrested, and about 80,000 police officers were deployed on Wednesday, France’s interior minister said .

Why is France in a debt crisis?

For decades, France’s government has spent more money than it has generated. This has forced the country to borrow to cover its budget.

In early 2025, the government said that its public debt stood at €3,345 billion, or 114% of the country’s GDP. This is third only to “the highest public debt in the eurozone after Greece and Italy, and equivalent to almost €50,000 рег French citizen”, according to a report by the BBC.

The budget deficit last year was 5.8% of GDP, while the corresponding figure is likely 5.4% for this year.

France also has an ageing population, with fewer workers being taxed and more citizens drawing the state pension, which has resulted in massive public spending.

That is why Bayrou wanted to slash the deficit by redefining generous social programmes, including state pensions. On Monday, he said that France was on “life support” and addicted to spending.

However, attempts to curtail social benefits have been politically difficult in France, as made clear by conflicts in 2023 over Macron’s decision to raise the retirement age to 64 from 62.