France's new cabinet at risk of collapse over budget pressure as Macron calls for stability

Mix of new and old faces in Sebastien Lecornu's government, with Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot to retain his post

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu says he returned to the role of Prime Minister 'out of a sense of duty'. Reuters

The fate of the latest French cabinet is set to be decided at Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's inaugural speech on Tuesday, as pressure over the budget intensifies.

Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron called on political parties to "work towards stability" as he landed in Egypt for a peace summit on Gaza. "The political forces that played on the destabilisation of Sebastien Lecornu are the only ones responsible for this disorder," Mr Macron said.

France, the eurozone's second biggest economy, is locked in political turmoil as Parliament, which has no clear majority, bickers over how to rein in the country's deficit.

Mr Macron reappointed Mr Lecornu as Prime Minister on Friday after his previous mandate lasted only 27 days owing to political infighting over his cabinet choices.

The hard-left and far-right have said they would back a no-confidence vote against the Prime Minister. There needs to be a clear change in policy, they argue, with the far-right pushing for snap elections that it is likely to win.

Socialists said they would take a decision after Mr Lecornu lays out his priorities in a speech on Tuesday afternoon. Socialists want a complete suspension of Mr Macron's pension reforms – a cornerstone of his policy. Like other opposition parties, they have sharply criticised Mr Macron, saying he is responsible for the current political deadlock.

If socialists also decide to back a no-confidence vote, the government would collapse, probably leading to snap elections. The party is widely described as facing a tough decision of either exacerbating the crisis by toppling Mr Lecornu's government or backing him, at the risk of appearing like Mr Macron's last support.

Crisis 'bad for France's image'

Party leaders are already getting in gear for the 2027 presidential election, in which Mr Macron cannot run because he will have already completed the maximum two mandates.

The newly appointed members of the cabinet of French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu. AFP

During a meeting with parties on Friday, Mr Macron did not go as far as promising a full suspension but suggested delaying its implementation in part until after the next presidential election in 2027. France has one of the most expensive pension systems in Europe, which costs 14 per cent of GDP.

Mr Lecornu, who said last week he would not seek to remain in the role, announced on Friday that he accepted the job "out of duty". "We must put an end to this political crisis which is exasperating the French and to this instability which is bad for France's image and its interests," he added.

Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon told the France Inter radio network that: "This government will fall and as soon as it falls there will be a dissolution. And as soon as there is a dissolution the government will be able to pass its budget by decree. That is the plan."

Far-right figure Marine Le Pen said she would table a motion of no confidence on Monday. "The President of the Republic must announce as soon as possible the dissolution of the National Assembly to allow the French people to express themselves and choose a new majority, which, without a doubt, will be led by [party leader] Jordan Bardella," she said.

The list of ministers published by Mr Macron's Elysee office on Sunday night included a mix of new and old faces. Jean-Noel Barrot remained as Foreign Minister. Outgoing labour minister Catherine Vautrin took on the defence portfolio. Roland Lescure, a Macron loyalist, is in charge of the economy, with next year's budget as a top priority.

There were also new faces. Paris police chief Laurent Nunez took over the Interior Ministry, replacing Bruno Retailleau, whose right-wing Republicans party said it would not be part in any government. Monique Barbut, the former France director of the World Wide Fund for Nature, was to head the Ministry of Environmental Transition. Gerald Darmanin, however, stayed on as Justice Minister. Rachida Dati, a scandal-ridden culture minister set to stand trial for corruption next year, also retained her post.