Overview

• President Emmanuel Macron named an 18‑minister lineup under Sébastien Lecornu with heavy continuity, including Jean‑Noël Barrot at foreign affairs and Bruno Retailleau at interior, and key shifts such as Roland Lescure at economy and Bruno Le Maire at defense.
• Roughly 12 hours after the ministerial list was published, Lecornu presented his resignation to Macron, who accepted it, bringing down the government before its first policy speech.
• Opposition figures Jordan Bardella and Jean‑Luc Mélenchon denounced the cabinet and called for new elections, while Socialists threatened censure and Les Républicains voiced anger, particularly over Le Maire’s return.
• Lecornu had urged ministers to act as negotiators to secure a contentious 2026 budget by year‑end, but the executive lacked a working majority in the National Assembly.
• Reports said Paris stocks fell around 2% after the collapse, and next steps—whether a new prime minister, a different coalition effort, or early elections—remain uncertain.