French PM Sebastien Lecornu is back in the hot seat, and he's got a ticking clock ⏰. Reappointed by President Emmanuel Macron late Friday, Lecornu must now assemble a fresh cabinet and deliver a draft budget to parliament by Monday. Think of it like a real-life House of Cards plot twist 🎬: miss the deadline, and his fragile minority government could collapse before it even finds its footing.
Just days ago, Lecornu resigned amid deep divisions in the National Assembly, admitting he couldn't secure enough support for a slimmed-down 2026 budget. His 27-day tenure was the shortest in modern French history – a record he hopes not to extend. But critics from the left, hard left and far right are already sharpening their knives, vowing to oust his government unless Macron calls new elections or resigns.
With only hours to go, Lecornu has to name key ministers for finance, budget and social security – the team that will steer France through the economic storm. Neither the Elysee Palace nor Matignon has revealed who's on the shortlist, but rumors hint at a cabinet of "renewal and diversity," as Lecornu promised in his X post.
On the policy front, eyes are on two hot issues: Macron's pension reform and the potential billionaires' tax. The Socialists, Lecornu's only realistic allies, have made their support conditional on these measures. Will Lecornu dare to shake up Macron's legacy, or play it safe to keep his fragile alliance alive?
One thing is clear: as midnight Monday looms, France's political drama is heating up. Can Lecornu beat the clock, or will this be another chapter in the country's ongoing government crisis? Stay tuned – the next 48 hours could reshape Macron's comeback plans and test Lecornu's leadership in the ultimate power play.
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French PM Lecornu under immediate pressure ahead of budget deadline
cgtn.com
