TL;DR : France has a new government led by Sébastien Lecornu, formed just before a key budget deadline. The cabinet includes both old and new ministers. Parliament is still divided, and some opposition parties plan to vote against the government.
🟪 What Happened
- France formed a new government on October 12, 2025, led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, after his reappointment by President Emmanuel Macron.
- The new cabinet must submit a 2026 draft budget by October 14 to meet EU deadlines.
- This comes after the previous government collapsed due to disputes over austerity measures and failed to pass the budget.
- Parliament remains hung, with no party holding a majority after the July 2025 snap elections.
🟪 Key Cabinet Appointments
- Catherine Vautrin moved from Labour to Defense Minister.
- Laurent Nuñez, former Paris police chief, is the new Interior Minister.
- Roland Lescure retained his role as Finance Minister.
- Jean-Noël Barrot remains Foreign Minister.
- Monique Barbut was appointed Environment Minister.
- Élisabeth Borne, former PM, is now Education Minister.
- Rachida Dati, despite facing a future corruption trial, kept her role as Culture Minister.
- Gérald Darmanin stays on as Justice Minister.
🟪 Political Reactions and Opposition
- Lecornu wrote on X: “A mission-based government has been appointed to draw up a budget for France before the end of the year.”
- He also said: “Only one thing matters: the interests of the country.”
- The right-wing Republicans (LR) refused to join the government but will support laws case-by-case.
- France Unbowed (LFI) and National Rally plan to file no-confidence motions.
- LFI’s Adrien Quatennens called the cabinet “a recycled Macronist team.”
🟪 Why It Matters
- France’s deficit exceeds 6% of GDP, violating EU limits and prompting pressure to cut spending.
- Macron is facing his worst domestic crisis since taking office in 2017.
- Public anger remains over the 2023 pension reform, which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64.
- Failure to pass the budget may force emergency stopgap measures from January 1, 2026.
- Macron has not publicly commented since the government collapse but is due to travel to Egypt to support a Gaza ceasefire deal.
🟪 Public and Media Response
- Polls show 62% of French voters distrust the new government.
- Protests and strikes are expected, including in Paris and Lyon.
- Media outlets like France 24, Le Monde, and Al Jazeera reported the news around 8 PM CET on October 12.