PARIS – Just days after resigning as France’s prime minister, Mr Sebastien Lecornu has made a dramatic return to office, reappointed by President Emmanuel Macron on October 10 to lead the government and push through a contentious 2026 budget in a divided Parliament. In his first television interview hours after stepping down on October 8, the 39-year-old politician described himself as a “soldier monk”, a man of duty ready to serve again if called.
True to his word, Lecornu accepted Macron’s appeal to resume the same demanding post that had forced his earlier resignation.“I don’t feel that there were many candidates, to be completely transparent,” he told reporters during a visit to a police station in L’Haÿ-les-Roses on October 11. “I don’t have an agenda. I have no other ambition than to get through this moment, which is objectively very difficult for everyone.”A longtime loyalist of Macron, Lecornu previously served as defence minister and mayor of a small Normandy town before becoming one of the youngest premiers in French history.
Though relatively unknown to the public before his appointment, his humble demeanor following his resignation has rapidly boosted his popularity, jumping 11 points to place him among France’s ten most admired politicians, according to pollster Elabe. Analysts say Lecornu’s sincerity contrasts sharply with Macron’s polarizing image. Opponents, however, have criticized the president’s decision to bring him back so soon, calling it “absurd” and “a bad joke.” Many have vowed to challenge his government’s legitimacy once parliamentary sessions resume.
Behind the scenes, Lecornu is known as a disciplined yet approachable operator, pragmatic, conciliatory, and unafraid of compromise. He has signaled openness to revisiting sensitive issues such as wealth taxation and pension reforms, areas Macron has been reluctant to change. With the 2026 budget hanging in the balance and the threat of a snap election looming, Macron’s decision to recall Lecornu underscores the high political stakes. For the “soldier monk” of French politics, duty has once again called and this time, he steps back into the fray with the weight of a nation on his shoulders.