Lescure faces the challenging task of passing a budget for the coming year while reducing France’s substantial public spending deficit, which has been causing concern among financial markets and international bodies. Lecornu is set to present his budget proposals on Monday and will outline his policy priorities in a speech to the French parliament soon.
Catherine Vautrin, a conservative and former health and labor minister under Prime Minister François Bayrou, has been appointed as the new armed forces minister. Conservatives Annie Genevard and Rachida Dati, with Dati running for Paris mayor next year, will continue as agriculture and culture ministers, respectively. Their roles in the government mean they can no longer claim affiliation with the conservative Les Républicains, according to a party statement released late Sunday. The statement on Friday noted that party leaders voted against joining the next French government.
Paris Police chief Laurent Nuñez will take on the role of interior minister, a position previously held by conservative leader Bruno Retailleau, who is not part of the new government. Jean-Pierre Farandou, the former head of France’s state-owned railway company SNCF, will become the labor minister.
“A mission-based government has been appointed to prepare a budget for France by the year’s end. I thank the women and men who have freely committed to this government, prioritizing the nation over personal and partisan interests,” Lecornu stated in a post on X. “The sole focus is the interests of the country.”
The duration of this government remains uncertain.
The far-right National Rally and the far-left France Unbowed have already stated their intention to oppose the government. Together, they hold over a third of the seats in the French National Assembly, the more influential lower house of parliament.
The Socialist Party, whose indirect support is crucial for Lecornu’s government’s survival, has expressed that their decision to potentially bring down the new government will depend on Lecornu’s specific proposals, particularly concerning the possible suspension of Macron’s contentious pension reforms.
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