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Roland Lescure, a member of parliament from the Ensemble pour la République (EPR) faction, delivers remarks at a rally for the Renaissance party in Saint-Denis near Paris on April 6, 2025. — Reuters
- Lescure’s appointment signals a gesture toward the left.
- Far-right and far-left factions threaten to topple the government.
- French MPs from unbowed parties are renewing calls for new elections.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, a close confidant of President Emmanuel Macron, announced on Sunday the appointment of Roland Lescure as the new Finance Minister in a cabinet that opponents warn could fall apart if it doesn’t shift away from Macron’s previous policies.
Lescure, who backed Macron early in his presidential bid in 2017 and has a background in the Socialist Party, was seen as a move to appeal to the left ahead of upcoming budget negotiations. However, left-wing politicians expressed disappointment with his selection.
Budget negotiations are becoming increasingly tense, requiring careful compromises among three conflicting groups: Macron’s centrist minority, the far right, and the left. If these groups unite against the government, it could face collapse.
Members of the far-left France Unbowed party announced plans to file a no-confidence motion immediately. Lecornu, 39, who is serving as Macron’s fifth Prime Minister in just two years, faces a crucial speech on Tuesday when he will present his policy agenda.
Budget Crisis
Lecornu’s predecessors, Francois Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were ousted by parliament over efforts to control France’s rising public spending, with financial markets closely watching the country’s high deficit—the largest in the eurozone.
While Lecornu has acknowledged calls to break from Macron’s recent policies, critics say his new cabinet largely continues existing approaches.
“We told the Prime Minister: Either change course or face a vote of no confidence. The current government’s plans are all about maintaining the status quo—and nothing that the French people have demanded,” said Jordan Bardella, leader of the nationalist National Rally party.
Left-wing lawmaker Eric Coquerel tweeted, “Once again, Macron is imposing a government of losers and rejected policies since the July 2024 elections.”
Marine Returns to Government
Former Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who managed France’s massive COVID-19 relief efforts, has been appointed Defense Minister. In his new role, he will influence France’s strategic stance on European security initiatives amid US President Donald Trump’s push for the EU to do more to support Ukraine.
Several key ministers remained in office, including Jean-Noel Barrot at Foreign Affairs, Bruno Retailleau at Interior, and Gerald Darmanin at Justice.
The government’s fragility was underscored when Retailleau, a conservative, expressed displeasure with how portfolios were allocated among coalition partners, calling for an emergency party meeting on Monday.
Members from France Unbowed reiterated their demand for a presidential election, a move Macron has dismissed.
Engaging the Socialists
Lescure, 58, faces the challenge of securing support or at least abstentions from Socialist lawmakers, while protecting Macron’s pro-business legacy and keeping conservative and liberal factions aligned.
An ex-senior executive at Natixis Asset Management, Lescure is also sensitive to the far right’s budget concerns, which could aim to destabilize the government again.
To gain socialist backing, Lescure has proposed introducing a wealth tax requested by the left and explicitly refused to bypass parliamentary voting with special powers. So far, the Socialists have found these offers insufficient.
“Without a change in policy, the Socialists will oppose the government,” said Pierre Jouvet, Secretary General of the Socialist Party, speaking to BFM TV.
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