Macron Names Former Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu as New Prime Minister

On Wednesday, Sébastien Lecornu was appointed as France’s fifth prime minister in less than two years. A former defense minister, he is recognized as a skilled strategist and a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron. With a fractured parliament, Macron is counting on Lecornu to foster much-needed consensus.

Lecornu’s political journey has been marked by a steady presence in the French government since Macron took office in 2017. He began his career in the president’s first cabinet as a secretary of state in the Ministry of Ecology. His trajectory saw him rise through the ranks, serving as minister of local authorities (2018-2020), minister of overseas territories (2020-2022), and most recently, as defense minister for the past three years. This sustained tenure speaks to Lecornu’s ability to cultivate tactical alliances.

At just 39 years old, Lecornu boasts two decades of political experience. He comes from a modest working-class background in Normandy, the grandson of a French Resistance fighter. After studying law at university, he briefly considered a career in the military and even contemplated joining a Benedictine monastery, but ultimately gravitated toward right-wing politics.

His political career began as an activist for the conservative Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) during his teenage years. By 20, he was serving as a parliamentary assistant to a party MP. Within two years, he was advising a junior minister for European affairs. At the age of 29, he became the mayor of his hometown, Vernon, and later the president of the surrounding department of Eure, making him the youngest person to hold that position.

Lecornu’s first significant national appointment came two years later when he joined other conservatives in shifting allegiance from traditional right-wing parties to Macron’s centrist movement, where he was given the ecology portfolio. He solidified his standing in 2019 by helping organize town hall debates across France during the “Yellow Vest” protests, aimed at addressing public discontent with the political elite. Macron praised Lecornu for his “practical approach” during this challenging period.

As defense minister, Lecornu successfully advocated for a significant increase in the military budget. He played a crucial role in overseeing France’s support for Kyiv, a commitment that has remained consistent despite ongoing political turmoil.

Throughout his rise, Lecornu has maintained a low public profile, rarely discussing his personal life and adopting a subdued presence on social media. Unlike other recent prime ministers, such as Gabriel Attal and François Bayrou—both considered potential successors to Macron—Lecornu is not viewed as a likely candidate for the presidency.

Now, Macron is relying on Lecornu’s reputation as a dealmaker to establish a functioning government in the face of deep divisions within parliament. The president has tasked him with engaging various factions to negotiate the 2026 budget, a challenge that proved insurmountable for his predecessors.

However, as a member of Macron’s inner circle—reportedly sharing frequent lunches with First Lady Brigitte Macron—Lecornu may find it challenging to persuade his political opponents to collaborate. His appointment has faced criticism from figures on both the far right and left, who label him a mere puppet of Macron, accusing the president of trying to cling to power.