Macron Appoints Sebastien Lecornu New French Prime Minister Amid Budget Challenges

French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Sebastien Lecornu, the outgoing defence minister and a close ally since 2017, as the new Prime Minister amid a minority government and ongoing political tension. Lecornu faces the immediate challenge of securing consensus on the 2026 budget in a fractured parliament, following the resignation of François Bayrou, who stepped down after failing to deliver on key spending cuts. The appointment has drawn widespread criticism from leftist parties and far-right leaders like Marine Le Pen, who view it as a continuation of Macron's policies and a provocation to opposition groups planning protests and strikes. While some opposition figures vow to block Lecornu's government, others acknowledge his potential to bring stability during economic uncertainty. Macron has directed Lecornu to seek cross-party compromises, although the political landscape remains divided, with little tradition of coalition-building in France's Fifth Republic. Lecornu, at 39, is the youngest prime minister under Macron and the fifth to hold the post in under two years, underscoring a period of political instability.