Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: FRENCH Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned on October 6, indicating a renewed crisis in the country’s politics. His resignation comes just weeks after his appointment. French President Emmanuel Macron accepted his resignation, hours after Lecornu revealed the first names of his government, Euro News reported. After unveiling his cabinet, Lecornu has faced criticism from his own camp and the opposition. The conservative Republicans party has expressed outrage over the return of France’s former Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire as Defence Minister, reports cited.
On October 5, Lecornu announced the cabinet lineup, which included Bruno Le Maire, who served as French Economy Minister from 2017 to 2024, being named as Defence Minister, while Roland Lescure was appointed as France’s Economy Minister. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot continued to keep his portfolio. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin also kept their posts, Xinhua News Agency reported. Culture Minister Rachida Dati continued to retain his post. The French presidency revealed 18 names, which included 16 ministers and two ministers delegate.
After the unveiling of the cabinet lineup, National Rally (RN) leader Jordan Bardella criticised the appointment. In a social media post, he said that new cabinet just “represents continuity” of the old government.
On September 9, French President Emmanuel Macron named then-Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu as the Prime Minister. Lecornu (39) served as French Defence Minister for over three years and is considered a close ally of Macron. Mathilde Panot, president of the La France Insoumise parliamentary group, had condemned Lecornu’s nomination as a “provocation” amid the rising protests.
She had accused Macron of pursuing “the same policy for the rich, who are in the minority in the Assembly and the country.” Macron made the appointment a day after Francois Bayrou and his cabinet were ousted in a parliamentary confidence vote over his proposal to reduce public spending. Later, Bayrou tendered his resignation.
