The first Lecornu government (French: gouvernement Lecornu I) was the forty-seventh government of France. It was formed in September 2025 after President Emmanuel Macron appointed Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister on 9 September,[1] replacing François Bayrou, who had been removed from office by a failed motion of confidence.[2] The list of ministers was announced on 5 October.[3][4] Lecornu resigned less than 14 hours after presenting his cabinet on 6 October, 27 days after his appointment.[5] His government became the shortest-lived one in French history.
Lecornu governments | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 47th and 48th Governments of French Fifth Republic | |
.jpg) | |
| Date formed | First: 9 September 2025[a] Second: 10 October 2025 |
| Date dissolved | First: 10 October 2025[b] Second: Incumbent |
| People and organisations | |
| President of the Republic | Emmanuel Macron |
| Prime Minister | Sébastien Lecornu |
| Member parties | |
| Status in legislature | Minority (coalition) |
| History | |
| Election | 2024 French legislative election |
| Predecessor | Bayrou government |
On 10 October, Lecornu was re-appointed as Prime Minister. He then formed the second Lecornu government (French: gouvernement Lecornu II), the forty-eighth and incumbent government of France.[6]
Formation
editFirst government
editOn 9 September 2025, President Emmanuel Macron appointed Lecornu as Prime Minister following the fall of the Bayrou government.[7] After 26 days, the composition of the government was announced on 5 October, with most of the ministers retaining their portfolios from the Bayrou government. As well as the continuing ministers, some other deputies from President Macron's Ensemble coalition were added, with former ministers Eric Woerth and Bruno Le Maire receiving portfolios again. [8][9]
Out of 18 nominations, 4 are members of The Republicans, and 8 of them are former ministers from the more right-leaning factions of the Ensemble coalition. Despite this, Bruno Retailleau retaining the Ministry of the Interior, declared the same evening that the composition of the government "doesn't reflect the break" desired by The Republicans, who demanded a third of the ministries.[10][11]
Shortly after the nomination, the various leaders of the left-wing parties making up the New Popular Front expressed their outrage against the new cabinet: Fabien Roussel (French Communist Party) called it a "middle finger to the French" whilst Jean-Luc Mélenchon described it as a "parade of LR and former LR revenants"; Marine Tondelier (Les Écologistes) described the nominations as a "bonus for incompetence" and a "contempt for democracy", and Olivier Faure (Socialist Party) speaks of it as a complete "Panini album of the Sarkozy/Fillon government".[12][13][14]
For the far-right, Jordan Bardella (National Rally) also criticised the composition of the government, whilst Éric Ciotti (Union of the Right for the Republic) also invoked the image of a "middle finger".[13]
Resignation
editOn 6 October 2025, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his cabinet resigned just one day after being formally appointed by President Emmanuel Macron.[15] The resignation came amid widespread political backlash over the composition of the new government, which included several figures closely associated with Macron’s previous administrations, and escalating tensions with Les Républicains, led by Bruno Retailleau. Lecornu had pledged to avoid using Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to push the 2026 budget through Parliament, instead advocating for a negotiated compromise. He also faced criticism for proposing a scaled-down version of the planned “Zucman tax” on wealth, limited to certain financial holdings. In his resignation statement, Lecornu cited the “absence of conditions necessary to govern” in a fragmented parliament. Following his departure, opposition parties called for early legislative elections, and reports suggested that President Macron was considering dissolving the National Assembly.[16]
The Lecornu government became the shortest in French history, lasting only 14 hours between the appointment of its ministers and its resignation.[5] It notably beat the previous records held by Frédéric François-Marsal in 1924, Édouard Herriot in 1926 and Henri Queuille in 1950, which all only lasted two days before resigning or being removed by Parliament.[17][18][19]
Re-appointment and reactions
editMacron reappointed Lecornu as Prime Minister on 10 October.[20]
La France Insoumise's Manuel Bompard said that he considered the reappointment humiliating and vowed to impeach President Macron and file a motion of no confidence against Lecornu's second government.[21] The French Communist Party's Fabien Roussel called for a snap election.[22] The Ecologists, LFI and PCF will support the motion.[23] The Socialist Party's Pierre Jouvet said that a motion of no confidence was not ruled out because no agreement was reached with the government.[22]
The Republicans and the Union of Democrats and Independents said they would not join the coalition.[24] As a result, ministers appointed by Lecornu from The Republicans were expelled from the party.[25]
National Rally's Jordan Bardella deemed the reappointment shameful for France and democracy, saying that the National Rally would file a motion of no confidence.[26] The Union of the Right for the Republic's Éric Ciotti would support the motion.[23] He called on his former right-wing colleagues to join him to bring about great change, and welcomed them like a family.[27]
Motions of no confidence
editOctober 2025
editLa France Insoumise and National Rally filed separate motions of no confidence on 16 October 2025.[28] The government survived both LFI's and RN's separate motions,[29] primarily because the Socialist Party supported the government after it promised to roll back pension reforms.[30]
| Ballot → | 16 October 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Required majority → | 289 out of 577  18 | |
271 / 577 | ||
| Abstentions or absentees[c] | 306 / 577 | |
| Source | ||
| Ballot → | 16 October 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| Required majority → | 289 out of 577 145 | |
144 / 577 | ||
| Abstentions or absentees[c] | 433 / 577 | |
| Source | ||
January 2026
editIn protest of the EU–Mercosur Partnership Agreement, La France Insoumise and National Rally again filed separate motions of no confidence on 9 January 2026.[31] Again, the government survived both votes due to the support of the Socialist Party.[32]
| Ballot → | 14 January 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Required majority → | 288 out of 575 32 | |
256 / 575 | ||
| Abstentions or absentees[c] | 319 / 575 | |
| Source | ||
| Ballot → | 14 January 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Required majority → | 288 out of 575 146 | |
142 / 575 | ||
| Abstentions or absentees[c] | 433 / 575 | |
| Source | ||
Composition
editMinisters
editFirst Lecornu government
Second Lecornu government[34]
Deputy Ministers
editFirst Lecornu government
| Portfolio | Attached minister | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minister Delegate for Gender Equality and the Fight against discriminations | Prime Minister | Aurore Bergé | RE | |
| Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament | Mathieu Lefèvre | RE | ||
Second Lecornu government
| Portfolio | Attached minister | Name | Party | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament | Prime Minister | Laurent Panifous | DVG | |
| Spokesperson of the Government of France | Maud Bregeon | RE | ||
| Minister Delegate for Gender Equality and the Fight against discriminations | Aurore Bergé | RE | ||
| Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Interior | Minister of the Interior | Marie-Pierre Vedrenne | MoDem | |
| Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Armed Forces | Minister of the Armed Forces | Alice Rufo | SE | |
| Minister Delegate for the Sea and Fisheries | Minister of Ecological Transition | Catherine Chabaud | MoDem | |
| Minister Delegate for the Ecological Transition | Mathieu Lefèvre | RE | ||
| Minister Delegate for Industry | Minister of the Economy | Sébastien Martin | LR[f] | |
| Minister Delegate for Artificial Intelligence and Digital | Anne Le Hénanff | HOR | ||
| Minister Delegate for Europe | Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs | Benjamin Haddad | RE | |
| Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Attractiveness | Nicolas Forissier | LR[f] | ||
| Minister Delegate for La Francophonie, International Partnerships and French Abroad | Éléonore Caroit | RE | ||
| Minister Delegate for Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities | Minister for Health, Families, Autonomy and People with Disabilities | Charlotte Parmentier-Lecocq | HOR | |
| Minister Delegate for Rural Affairs | Minister for Regional Planning and Decentralisation | Michel Fournier | SE | |
| Minister Delegate for the Civil Service and State Reform | Minister for Public Action and Accounts | David Amiel | RE | |
Notes
edit- ↑ The whole cabinet was formed on 5 October, but Lecornu himself was sworn in as Prime Minister on 9 September.
- ↑ Lecornu tendered his resignation to President Macron on 6 October 2025, but remained caretaker Prime Minister until he was recommissioned on 10 October 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 In the French National Assembly, motions of no confidence are voted on by open ballot, with only those in favor of the motion taking part in the vote. Since a majority of the entire membership is required, those who are absent or do not cast a ballot are de facto voting against.
- ↑ 5–6 October 2025.[33]
- ↑ Since 6 October 2025.[33]
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 On 10 October, The Republicans voted not to participate in Lecornu's Second Government. As a result, the appointed ministers were suspended from the party.
References
edit- ↑ Ambrose, Tom; Sedghi, Amy; Graham, Vicky; Sedghi, Tom Ambrose (now); Amy; Graham (earlier), Vicky (10 September 2025). "New French PM takes office as 'Block Everything' protests rock country – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "French Government Collapses, Again, Deepening Paralysis". 8 September 2025. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
- ↑ "La composition du gouvernement de Sébastien Lecornu". info.gouv.fr (in French). Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- ↑ "Gouvernement Lecornu : la liste des 18 ministres nommés dimanche soir" (in French). 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- 1 2 "The fall of France's 14-hour government". POLITICO. 6 October 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
- ↑ "Macron picks Lecornu as French PM again". POLITICO. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ↑ Ambrose, Tom; Sedghi, Amy; Graham, Vicky; Sedghi, Tom Ambrose (now); Amy; Graham (earlier), Vicky (10 September 2025). "New French PM takes office as 'Block Everything' protests rock country – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 September 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Les ministres du gouvernement Lecornu sont « un bras d'honneur aux Français »" [The ministers of the Lecornu government are "a middle finger to the French"]. 20 Minutes (in French). 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- ↑ ""Retour des perdants", "Derniers macronistes agrippés au radeau" : les oppositions étrillent le gouvernement Lecornu - ici" ["Return of the losers", "Last Macronists clinging to the raft": the opposition criticizes the Lecornu government - here]. ici, le média de la vie locale (in French). 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- ↑ "Gouvernement Lecornu : Les Républicains exigent "un tiers du gouvernement" et attendent des réponses du Premier ministre, notamment sur l'immigration" [Lecornu Government: Republicans demand "one-third of the government" and await answers from the Prime Minister, particularly on immigration]. Franceinfo (in French). 3 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- ↑ "À peine renommé, Bruno Retailleau prend (déjà) ses distances avec Sébastien Lecornu" [Barely re-elected, Bruno Retailleau is (already) distancing himself from Sébastien Lecornu]. parismatch.com (in French). 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- ↑ "« Deux censures pour rien », un « choix pathétique »... RN, LFI, PS et Verts dépités par le gouvernement Lecornu" ["Two censorships for nothing", a "pathetic choice"... RN, LFI, PS and Greens disappointed by the Lecornu government]. leparisien.fr (in French). 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- 1 2 "Les ministres du gouvernement Lecornu sont « un bras d'honneur aux Français »" [The ministers of the Lecornu government are "a middle finger to the French"]. 20 Minutes (in French). 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- ↑ ""Retour des perdants", "Derniers macronistes agrippés au radeau" : les oppositions étrillent le gouvernement Lecornu - ici" ["Return of the losers", "Last Macronists clinging to the raft": the opposition criticizes the Lecornu government - here]. ici, le média de la vie locale (in French). 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- ↑ "French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigns after less than a month". www.bbc.com. 6 October 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ↑ Vandoorne, Joseph Ataman, Saskya (6 October 2025). "France's prime minister resigns after less than a month on the job". CNN. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ "Sébastien Lecornu and the world's other shortest political careers". POLITICO. 6 October 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ↑ "Il n'aura tenu que 14 heures : record d'éphémérité battu pour le gouvernement formé par Sébastien Lecornu". Le Télégramme (in French). 6 October 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ↑ "Démission du Premier ministre : Ces devanciers de Lecornu qui l'avaient fait express". Le Canard enchaîné (in French). 6 October 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
- ↑ "Macron picks Lecornu as French PM again". POLITICO. 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ↑ "« Un nouveau bras d'honneur aux Français » : les réactions pleuvent après la reconduction de Lecornu". Le Soir (in French). 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- 1 2 "Sébastien Lecornu reconduit : les principales réactions". ouest-france.fr (in French). 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- 1 2 "Lecornu renommé Premier ministre : le défi majeur de former un gouvernement après le refus de LR et les menaces de censure". SudOuest.fr (in French). 11 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
- ↑ "DIRECT. Lecornu II: Les Républicains annoncent qu'ils ne participeront pas au gouvernement". BFMTV (in French). 11 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
- ↑ "France: Le parti LR exclut ses membres entrés au gouvernement". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ Nomination de Sébastien Lecornu au poste de Premier ministre: Jordan Bardella annonce que le Rassemblement national censurera “cet attelage sans aucun avenir” : Actualités - Orange (in French). 10 October 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
- ↑ ""Une famille qui n'aurait jamais dû se séparer" : Ciotti invite les LR à rejoindre son alliance avec le RN". www.rtl.fr (in French). 11 October 2025. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
- ↑ "Gouvernement Lecornu : retrouvez notre direct sur la nomination des ministres et le vote des motions de censure". Le Monde.fr (in French). Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ↑ "Gouvernement Lecornu : retrouvez notre direct sur la nomination des ministres et le vote des motions de censure". Le Monde.fr (in French). Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ↑ "Gouvernement Lecornu : retrouvez notre direct sur la nomination des ministres et le vote des motions de censure". Le Monde.fr (in French). Retrieved 17 October 2025.
- ↑ Pineau, Elizabeth; de La Hamaide, Sybille (9 January 2026). "French opposition parties seek to topple government over Mercosur". Reuters. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
- ↑ Pineau, Elizabeth; Melander, Ingrid (14 January 2026). "French government survives no-confidence votes, now faces another budget battle". Reuters. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
- 1 2 "What's next for France? Six questions to understand the consequences of Lecornu's resignation". Le Monde. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
- ↑ "Nomination du Gouvernement". elysee.fr (in French). 12 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ "France appoints new government under PM Lecornu". 12 October 2025. Retrieved 12 October 2025.