In shocking move, French President Macron reappoints Sebastien Lecornu as PM

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as the country’s prime minister, the Élysée Palace announced, bringing an end to a week of political turmoil.

Lecornu had abruptly resigned on Monday, just hours after unveiling a new Cabinet that drew opposition from a key coalition partner. His sudden departure prompted calls for Macron to step down or dissolve parliament, but the president instead announced on Wednesday that he would name a successor within 48 hours.

With no majority in the National Assembly to push through his reform agenda, Macron has faced growing criticism from both the opposition and members of his own camp. Political observers say the reappointment underlines the president’s limited room for manoeuvre.

Political party leaders who met Macron for more than two hours on Friday said they were unsure what decision he would take. Some cautioned that reappointing a prime minister from his fragile centrist bloc could again be rejected by the lower house, prolonging the crisis.