French politics, never short on drama, has once again delivered a plot twist worthy of a political thriller. On October 11, 2025, President Emmanuel Macron reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister, just four days after Lecornu’s abrupt resignation—a resignation that, at 27 days, marked the shortest tenure of any French prime minister in history, according to the Kazinform News Agency. The move followed a week of political chaos, with France’s government teetering on the edge of paralysis and its citizens looking on with a mix of frustration and anxiety.
For Lecornu, the decision to return was not one made lightly. "Out of duty, I accept the mission entrusted to me by the President of the Republic—to do everything possible to secure France’s year-end budget and to address the everyday challenges faced by our fellow citizens. We must put an end to this political crisis that frustrates the French people and to the instability that harms France’s image and its interests," Lecornu wrote, as reported by Kazinform. He went on to assure the public, "I will do everything to ensure this mission is carried out successfully."
The backdrop to Lecornu’s reappointment is a country grappling with mounting economic challenges and a ballooning national debt. France, the European Union’s second-largest economy, has been under increasing pressure to pass a budget before looming deadlines. As Arab News highlighted, Lecornu called for calm and urged political parties to come together to produce a workable budget, warning of the risks if the fractured parliament fails to cooperate.
Lecornu’s own words, delivered during a visit to a police station in the Paris suburb of L’Hay-les-Roses, laid bare the bleak reality facing France’s leadership. "I don’t think there were a lot of candidates," he admitted to reporters, acknowledging both the thankless nature of the job and the depth of the country’s political divides. He had resigned on October 6, after just a month on the job, but agreed to return out of what he described as an urgent need to find financial solutions for the nation.
Yet Lecornu’s return is no guarantee of stability. He was candid about the precariousness of his position, noting, "Either political forces help me and we accompany each other ... or they won’t." He made clear that he would stay on only as long as "conditions are met," openly recognizing the possibility that he could be brought down in a no-confidence vote by the deeply divided parliament.
President Macron’s decision to bring Lecornu back is seen by many as a last-ditch effort to reinvigorate his second term, which runs until 2027. Macron’s centrist camp lacks a majority in the National Assembly and has faced increasing criticism, even from within its own ranks. Over the past year, successive minority governments have collapsed in quick succession, leaving France mired in what France24 described as a political deadlock. The current crisis has only aggravated France’s economic woes and raised alarms across the European Union.
Opposition leaders, spanning the political spectrum from the far right to the far left, have slammed Macron’s decision to reappoint Lecornu. Critics argue that the move does little to address the underlying causes of France’s instability. Lecornu, for his part, refused to say when he expects to form a new government or who might be included in it. He did, however, state that it would not include anyone angling for the 2027 presidential election—a nod, perhaps, to concerns about political opportunism at a time when unity is desperately needed.
The new government, Lecornu emphasized, should embody "renewal and a diversity of skills." He also stated that all issues raised during recent consultations with political parties "will remain open for parliamentary discussion," according to a statement published by the French presidency and reported by various outlets. This approach, Lecornu hopes, will help bridge the deep divides that have left France’s parliament fractured and its government paralyzed.
One particularly contentious issue that Lecornu did not address is the opposition’s demand to scrap a law raising the retirement age—a measure that has sparked widespread protests and remains a flashpoint in French politics. By leaving this and other issues open for parliamentary debate, Lecornu appears to be betting on dialogue and compromise, rather than unilateral action, to move the country forward.
The stakes could hardly be higher. France’s political crisis has not only frustrated its citizens but also damaged its image and interests abroad. The debt crisis has worried financial markets and EU partners alike, while the growing poverty rate has added to the sense of urgency. As Lecornu himself put it, the mission now is to "secure France’s year-end budget and to address the everyday challenges faced by our fellow citizens."
Despite the daunting challenges, Lecornu has sought to project a sense of determination and hope. "I will do everything to ensure this mission is carried out successfully," he assured the public. Yet he has also been frank about the limits of his power, noting that his tenure depends on the willingness of political forces to work together. In his own words, "Either political forces help me and we accompany each other ... or they won’t."
For now, all eyes are on the French parliament. Will rival parties set aside their differences long enough to pass a budget and prevent further economic turmoil? Or will the political crisis deepen, forcing yet another change at the top? With Lecornu’s reappointment, Macron has played what many see as his final card in a high-stakes game that will determine the future of his presidency—and, perhaps, the trajectory of France itself.
As the dust settles on this latest chapter of French political intrigue, the country stands at a crossroads. The coming weeks will reveal whether Lecornu’s appeal for calm and cooperation can break the deadlock, or if France is destined for yet another bout of instability. For now, at least, the story is far from over.
