Lecornu, Prime Minister, live: "a change of method" mentioned to avoid censorship by the Socialist Party
The essentials
- One day after the fall of François Bayrou's government, a new Prime Minister was appointed. Sébastien Lecornu was chosen by President Emmanuel Macron. He is tasked with forming a completely new government, following consultations with the political parties. This will therefore take time.
- The transfer of power from François Bayrou to Sébastien Lecornu will take place on Wednesday, September 10 at noon, Prime Minister Matignon announced. The new Prime Minister will announce a "change of method" in his governance.
- But can he simply stay in office? That depends neither on him nor on Emmanuel Macron, but on the National Assembly, to which the government is accountable. Sébastien Lecornu must be supported by a majority of deputies: either with explicit support from the parties that will participate in his government, or by parties that will accept a tacit agreement of no censure. The RN will bring him down at the first opportunity. Without the approval of Liot and especially the Socialist Party, the government will fall. The Socialist Party believes it will have to implement "a radical change of policy" to escape censure.
Live
Olivier Faure, the head of the Socialist Party, stated on Franceinfo that the Socialists would not participate in the government: "I have always refused, I do not wish to maintain confusion with the current government (...) associated with LR. We will not govern together."
Interviewed on RTL, the resigning Minister of Justice, unsurprisingly, stated that he was satisfied with Emmanuel Macron's choice of Sébastien Lecornu. "I have every confidence in this Prime Minister. He has a capacity for dialogue, I know him personally and for a very long time. He is someone who comes from the people," he said. Gérald Darmanin is a close friend of Sébastien Lecornu. He added: "We must not judge people for what they are, but for what they do. Sébastien Lecornu—I know it, I hope it, I will help him—will reach out and will be a man of listening and dialogue. In any case, there will be no other future for the Prime Minister, the government, and our country without dialogue."
"Sébastien Lecornu has been Emmanuel Macron's minister for eight years, (...) understand the skepticism we may feel," Boris Vallaud, the leader of the Socialist Party deputies in the National Assembly, told RTL. "Without a change in policy, the consequences are likely to be the same," said the socialist, who is threatening to bring down the government in a motion of censure.
The man who has been nominated as the next new Prime Minister left the Ministry of the Armed Forces in the middle of the evening, around 9:30 p.m., to head to the Élysée Palace, where he is holding talks with Emmanuel Macron. According to his entourage, the watchwords of his first speech tomorrow, Wednesday, September 10, during the transfer of power at Matignon, will be "sobriety, calm, and work."
Édouard Philippe stated on TF1 that Sébastien Lecornu "has the qualities" to "discuss" and "find an agreement" with other parties. The president of the Horizon party also added that he was also ready to compromise: "When we discuss, we are obliged to compromise. I am ready to compromise within certain limits. The budgets of the armed forces, the police, and the justice system must be preserved," added the former Prime Minister.
???? "I am willing to compromise within certain limits. The budgets of the armed forces, the police, and the justice system must be preserved." ➡ Edouard Philippe, mayor of Le Havre on TF1's 8 p.m. news pic.twitter.com/TrkQI9ODLJ
For Raphaël Glucksmann, Lecornu "will have to accept policies [very] far removed from what has been done until now" The Place publique MEP reacted on the social network X and earlier in the evening to the appointment of Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister. Raphaël Glucksmann thus believes that Sébastien Lecornu "will have to accept policies [very] far removed from what has been done until now and if he wants to avoid the fall." Finally, he affirms that "Tax justice is the condition of stability."
The President chose a Prime Minister (very) close to him, as if he still hoped that nothing would change. But to avoid collapse, it will have to accept policies that are (very) far removed from what has been done so far. Fiscal justice is the condition for stability.
Like Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the National Rally was quick to react to the appointment of Sébastien Lecornu early in the evening. Shortly before 8 p.m., Marine Le Pen took to the social network X. And she mentioned Emmanuel Macron: "The president is firing the last shot of Macronism," Marine Le Pen reacted. She also stated that "After the inevitable future legislative elections, the Prime Minister will be called Jordan Bardella," she wrote.
The President is firing the last shot of Macronism, holed up with his small circle of loyalists. After the inevitable upcoming legislative elections, the Prime Minister will be called Jordan Bardella.
The Prime Minister's entourage told BFMTV that Sébastien Lecornu had already begun consultations with a view to forming a "new government." "We are working humbly, and we will do everything we can to achieve this," he added. Meanwhile, on the social network X, the new Prime Minister said he was aware of the expectations of the French people and was aware of the "difficulties."
Earlier in the evening, Gabriel Attal, the secretary general of the Renaissance party, sent his "best wishes" to Sébastien Lecornu. "We will always seek to act in the public interest and will support him in doing so," he wrote on X. Gabriel Attal then pledged his support to Sébastien Lecornu. "We will always seek to act in the public interest and will support him in doing so," explained the Together for the Republic MP.
All my best wishes to @SebLecornu in his new role as Prime Minister. With the @DeputesEnsemble and @Renaissance , we will always seek to move in the direction of the general interest and will support it for this. In this critical period for the country, it...
The leader of the rebellious deputies in the National Assembly described Sébastien Lecornu's appointment as a "provocation" on the social network X. She added that "Lecornu, the one who, faced with the Yellow Vests or the Guadeloupeans fighting for the right to water, has responded only with repression. The one who dines with Le Pen." Mathilde Panot also called for "Macron to go" with the "Block Everything" movement, which will begin tomorrow, Wednesday, September 9.
The appointment of Sébastien Lecornu on the eve of the September 10th movement is a provocation. The same policy applies to the wealthy, who are in the minority in the National Assembly and throughout the country. Lecornu, the one who, faced with the Yellow Vests or the Guadeloupeans fighting for the right to water, has...
Following the announcement of Sébastien Lecornu's nomination as Prime Minister, the leader of La France Insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, reacted quickly by denouncing "a sad comedy." He also called once again for Emmanuel Macron's departure in a message on the social network X (formerly Twitter). He wrote: "Only the departure of Macron himself can put an end to this sad comedy of contempt for Parliament, voters, and political decency."
Macron's response to Bayrou's overthrow: from now on, it's absolutely the same as before. Only the departure of Macron himself can put an end to this sad comedy of contempt for Parliament, voters and political decency.
"The President is firing the last shot at Macronism, holed up with his small circle of loyalists. After the inevitable legislative elections, the Prime Minister will be called Jordan Bardella," wrote Marine Le Pen on Twitter. This means that a motion of censure will be voted on by the National Rally (RN) deputies soon. This censure will bring down the new government if the entire left joins in.
"With the appointment of Sébastien Lecornu to Matignon, Emmanuel Macron is persisting in a path in which no socialist will participate. Without social, fiscal, and ecological justice, without measures to improve purchasing power, the same causes will produce the same effects," the Socialist Party wrote in a press release.
???? With the appointment of Sébastien Lecornu to Matignon, Emmanuel Macron is persisting in a path that no socialist will participate in. Without social, fiscal, and ecological justice, without measures to improve purchasing power, the same causes will produce the same effects.
François Bayrou's government resigned on Tuesday, September 9, and Emmanuel Macron must appoint a new Prime Minister for the fifth time since the start of his second term in 2022. The head of state has been considering this issue for two weeks, and many names are circulating as potential replacements. While some are naturally obvious, others are persistently recurrent. Finally, other candidates could cause a surprise.
Rumor has it that Emmanuel Macron wants to act quickly and appoint a person before September 18, the date on which the inter-union group is calling for a general strike. The President's idea would be to have a head of government capable of receiving the unions to avoid being on the front line facing the anger. Appointing a Prime Minister before the 18th is also a way for Emmanuel Macron to ensure that the executive is operational before turning to the United Nations summit where he plans to officially recognize the State of Palestine. But the President of the Republic is not known for rushing into decisions: for example, he took two months to appoint Michel Barnier to Matignon in 2024. Fine, but this time things could speed up: "He's already had two weeks to prepare for it," an advisor told Le Parisien , ironically, referring to François Bayrou's (surprise) announcement that he would submit to a vote of confidence on August 25. The daily newspaper recalls the identikit portrait of the future tenant of Matignon according to the head of state: "a personality from his camp, embodying rather the left wing, capable of opening conclusive negotiations with the Socialist Party, on the future budget."
Emmanuel Macron could once again be tempted to appoint a figure from the common core. Several members of the government are also mentioned, such as the Minister of the Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu , who was already considered during previous reshuffles. "He's Macron's buddy, they spent the summer together, in Brégançon or on the phone," a Macronist confided to Le Parisien . Loyal and close to the head of state, his regal profile could convince Emmanuel Macron - finally - to entrust him with the keys to the government. Indeed, the Minister of the Armed Forces recently "made phone calls to the left," Politico reported on Monday, September 8. On the other end of the line: mayors, local elected officials, to whom "he has let it be known that he is ready to open up to the left," continues a long-time Macronist. But he is not the only one mentioned.
Labor Minister Catherine Vautrin could pull it off. The former LR president almost got appointed to Matignon in 2022. Precisely, "it will be Vautrin or Darmanin, because Lecornu is Poulidor. He will always be the eternal second," analyzes a source of the president to Le Parisien. According to a Renaissance executive, the head of state "regrets" not having appointed her two years earlier and "is angry with all those who pushed him to choose Elisabeth Borne." Catherine Vautrin "called left-wing elected officials she knows well," Politico revealed on Monday, September 8.
While these profiles all come from the right, the name of a minister who is a little more compatible with the left is also mentioned: that of the Minister of the Economy , Eric Lombard. The former business leader is also a friend of François Hollande and Olivier Faure. As a former member of the Socialist Party - a relationship that ended 20 years ago - the minister "speaks their language," one of his colleagues told Franceinfo . He could act as a bridge between the central bloc and the left, as he defends labor, opposes the reinstatement of the wealth tax (ISF) and the suspension of pension reform, but remains open to the idea of taxing the richest. "I prefer him to Bernard Cazeneuve," a left-wing senator told Franceinfo. As of Saturday, September 6, Eric Lombard was "forming his cabinet," mocked a government advisor grilled by Politico. For the time being, Emmanuel Macron "is aiming for a new attempt with a Prime Minister from his home country, like Darmanin or Lecornu, Vautrin, who would be responsible for finding an agreement," confided a former minister in the columns of France Info , Monday, September 8. Note that the name of Gérald Darmanin is also favored by a part of the central bloc who know his compatibility with the right.
A new Prime Minister compatible with the right?Other profiles outside the current government could also be considered by Emmanuel Macron. Many of those mentioned behind the scenes are figures close to the right: François Baroin, Christine Lagarde, Thierry Breton , and Roland Lescure, who was still a minister last year. Between their experience, unity, and longtime allies of the president, their names have already been mentioned in the past and could quickly return to the forefront. Xavier Bertrand 's name has also been mentioned and has been coming up repeatedly in recent days. A former right-wing MP and several times minister under the presidency of Jacques Chirac and then Nicolas Sarkozy, the president of the Hauts-de-France region "was an opponent of the President of the Republic, knew how to present a republican front, and he speaks to the socialists. That already ticks a lot of boxes," acknowledged a close friend of the head of state, Le Parisien reported on Monday, September 8. "Xavier Bertrand, at least, isn't a socialist. The evolution is positive," Bruno Retailleau even declared on LCI this Sunday. Laurent Wauquiez, for his part, had mentioned Xavier Bertrand's name a few moments earlier, rather spontaneously, on LCI. Unless there's a surprise?
The founder of the UDI, Jean-Louis Borloo, is mentioned in the columns of Politico . The man returned to action during the summer university of the party he founded, on the theme of "500 days to raise France." A formula that makes sense, a few weeks before a potential reshuffle. The current president of the UDI, Hervé Marseille, assures the political media that Jean-Louis Borloo is "available" and has "plenty of ideas." As a reminder, Jean-Louis Borloo was a European deputy, Minister Delegate for Cities, Employment under Chirac, and Economy and Ecology under Sarkozy, before sitting in the National Assembly for four years as a deputy for the North. In 2017, he publicly supported Emmanuel Macron in the presidential campaign. The name of Jean Castex - former tenant of Matignon and now head of the RATP - is also put forward.
Or the temptation of a Prime Minister from the left?Emmanuel Macron is also reportedly exploring the possibility of a left-wing Prime Minister. Politico reports intercepting a presidential invitation sent to a left-wing figure to "discuss the country's political situation and discuss (...) his future in a future government team." In this case, the name of Bernard Cazeneuve , already mentioned during previous transfers of power at Matignon, would naturally come up again. François Hollande's former Prime Minister could allow the head of state to "show that he has finally understood the lessons of dissolution," a leader of the central bloc believes in Le Parisien. This is especially true since the Socialist Party (PS) has distanced itself from LFI with a view to dissolution, as has Bernard Cazeneuve. A programmatic agreement between the PS and LFI, such as the one negotiated with the NFP in 2024, "does not seem conceivable," the leader of the Socialist deputies, Boris Vallaud, said in Libération. In the same vein, the name of Carole Delga could be mentioned. The president of the Occitanie region, however, has never officially been among those considered and has not had any recent discussions with the head of state.
However, will a Socialist Party (PS) member accept the mission? "No one in our party will be so irresponsible as to fall into a trap for idiots. No government in the current configuration has a majority. Why would a part of the left take that risk?" a party heavyweight says in the columns of Le Parisien. Yet, the PS continues to call for a left-wing Prime Minister, and Olivier Faure has even volunteered. He has, however, promised a government and a policy of rupture in the event of his appointment—a priori unlikely—as Prime Minister. But he could force the President of the Republic to reconsider the equation: by entrusting the keys to a center-left and center government, without LR, and by obtaining a broad non-censorship agreement with a large part of the left, including LR, the score holds.
For its part, La Dépêche du Midi puts forward the name of Pierre Moscovici , former Minister of the Economy under François Hollande. His position as First President of the Court of Auditors could appear to be a major advantage in the eyes of Emmanuel Macron. While the name of a left-wing prime ministerial candidate has not been finalized, the presidential camp is now acknowledging its desire to cede ground to the Socialist Party. "I think we need to find a consensus with the Socialist Party. It's better to give them a few billion than to pay for a political crisis, there's no doubt about that," assures Macronist MP Jean-René Cazeneuve, former budget rapporteur, on France Info . "We're going to have to make a gesture," adds a second parliamentarian, "perhaps on pension reform, more certainly on the wealth tax," he says. "If we're in Matignon, we'll be able to do interesting things quickly. If we're not, we'll be ready to go to the negotiating table, but with a knife between our teeth," warns a heavyweight from the pink party.
Profiles capable of linking the central block to the leftWhether right or left, Emmanuel Macron seems to be looking for someone capable of rallying support beyond his own party and capable of making compromises, the only way to hope to stay at Matignon for more than a few days. He is said to have requested a report on Jean-Michel Blanquer's summer university, which brought together politicians from diverse backgrounds but with the common point of pleading for dialogue: Bernard Cazeneuve , Edouard Philippe , Jérôme Guedj and Bruno Retailleau .
Rare profiles that embrace or are close to government policy and meet the criteria of compatibility with the social-democratic left would also be considered. This is the case of MP Liot and budget rapporteur Charles de Courson. According to a parliamentary source at CNews, the main interested party "could consider assuming the role of Prime Minister" if the National Assembly were to reject the vote of confidence. "He is a cautious man, from the right, who can speak to the left," the group confides. Finally, Jean-Yves Le Drian is presented as a "credible option" by some, recalls Le Parisien .
A Prime Minister from the National Rally or from civil society... These other optionsWhile Emmanuel Macron's preference seems to be for a Prime Minister from the central bloc, or at most from the LR or the social-democratic left, he could be confronted with the reality on the ground: the far right is the most numerous in the Assembly and has already reached agreements with the LR group on certain texts. "Today, the only thing that works is Retailleau... with the RN," analyzed a socialist strategist to Politico. A calculation that the head of state has surely already made, but to which there is little chance that he will give in, unless forced to do so.
And finally, what if the next Prime Minister were a civil society figure? In that case, the former general secretary of the CFDT, whose name had already been circulating, Laurent Berger , could be the favorite. La Dépêche du Midi also cites the relatively economic profiles of Pascal Demurger , who was CEO of MAIF, that of the president of the Michelin group from 2012 to 2019 and then of Renault since January 2019, Jean-Dominique Senard, or even Emmanuel Faber , former CEO of Danone from 2014 to 2021.
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