French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has been reappointed only four days after resigning, returning to lead a government facing a difficult budget battle in parliament. President Emmanuel Macron asked Lecornu to resume the job after he failed last week to get a slimmed-down 2026 budget passed through a divided legislature. The 39-year-old, seen as one of Macron’s most loyal allies, said he accepted out of duty. “I don’t feel that there were many candidates, to be completely transparent,” Lecornu told reporters during a visit to a police station near Paris. “I don’t have an agenda. I have no other ambition than to get through this moment, which is objectively very difficult for everyone,” he said, according to Reuters. Reappointed French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu shakes hands with policemen as he visits a police station in L'Hay-les-Roses, outside Paris, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025. (AP) Lecornu first described himself as a “soldier monk” during a television interview after his resignation — someone willing to return to serve when called. The phrase, evoking discipline and loyalty, has since defined his image among both supporters and critics. Before becoming Prime Minister, Lecornu had served in several ministerial posts since 2017, including Defence Minister. Although previously little known to the public, his calm tone after stepping down boosted his popularity, Reuters reported. Pollster Bernard Sananès of Elabe told BFM TV that Lecornu’s popularity rose by 11 points, putting him among France’s ten most popular politicians. “Even if there is criticism about his reappointment, there is little criticism of his personality,” Sananès said. “Modesty, humility. That contrasts with Emmanuel Macron’s image.” Opposition leaders, however, sharply criticised Macron’s decision to reappoint him, calling it “absurd” and “a bad joke.” Several parties said they would seek to remove Lecornu’s government through a no-confidence vote as soon as possible. Lecornu has long been considered a quiet and loyal member of Macron’s team. He once told an interviewer that at age 16 he had considered joining the priesthood a story that his friends say reflects his disciplined and reserved nature. “My prudence, my old-school style in terms of communication protects me,” he said at the time. Known for his ability to work with different sides, Lecornu built a reputation as a practical negotiator while serving as a local mayor in Normandy. People close to him told Reuters that he is willing to compromise on sensitive issues, including taxes on the wealthy and pension reform. “He has no religion on these issues,” a former staffer said. That willingness to compromise could be crucial as Macron tries to avoid another political crisis or a snap election that could benefit Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally.
