Re-appointed French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu names new cabinet after meeting with Macron

France’s newly re-appointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu named a new government Sunday evening, as he faces pressure to urgently produce a budget and end the prolonged political crisis that has engulfed the country.

Lecornu, France's fourth prime minister in a year, appointed his first government a week ago - then resigned hours later amid protests by a key conservative coalition member. That unleashed days of political uncertainty.

Lecornu’s second government in less than a month was officially formed on Sunday night with 34 ministers. The Cabinet includes several members who served in previous governments, from Macron’s centrist camp and allied conservatives, as well as a few people from outside the political sphere.

Among the new appointments is former Labour Minister Catherine Vautrin, now serving as Defence Minister, tasked with overseeing France’s military support for Ukraine and responding to security threats from Russia.

Paris police chief Laurent Nunez, who managed security during the 2024 Olympics, becomes Interior Minister, responsible for national security. Roland Lescure takes over as Finance Minister, a key role as France seeks to draft a budget addressing rising debt and poverty.

Those retaining their positions include Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who will accompany President Macron to Egypt on Monday for an international ceremony marking the Gaza ceasefire.

It is unclear how long this new team will last. Macron, whose term ends in 2027, lacks a majority in the deeply fractured parliament and is losing support from his own ranks. Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party is calling for new elections, while hard-left France Unbowed wants the president to resign.

Right after the president’s office unveiled the new Cabinet, the conservative Republicans party said it would expel the six members who had agreed to join the government. In a social media post on X, Le Pen said they will be calling for a vote of no confidence against the government on Monday.

France Unbowed also warned the new government in a post on X, with leader Mathilde Panot saying "A piece of advice for newcomers: don’t unpack your boxes too quickly... Censorship is coming."

France's Socialist Party was less straightforward, with its leader Olivier Faure saying "No Comment" in his own post on X.

Sebastien Lecornu was re-appointed prime minister on Friday and has been working to quickly appoint key cabinet members before Monday's budget deadline.

"A mission-driven government has been appointed to provide France with a budget before the end of the year," the French prime minister wrote on X, thanking the women and men "who are freely committed to this government, regardless of personal or partisan interests".

"Only one thing matters: the interests of the country," he wrote.

The transfers of power will be "sober, without press and without guests," said the Prime Minister office.