France PM: Who Is the Current Prime Minister and What Happened

There is something about French politics that keeps even casual observers refreshing their feeds: the speed at which prime ministers change. France has cycled through five prime ministers under President Emmanuel Macron since 2017, and the most recent episode — Sébastien Lecornu’s resignation after just 26 days in office, followed by his reappointment days later — has tested what the Fifth Republic’s constitutional mechanics can handle. This article walks through who the current prime minister is, why the revolving door keeps spinning, and how his role actually differs from the presidency.

Current Prime Minister: Sébastien Lecornu ·
Appointed: 9 September 2025 ·
Resigned: 6 October 2025 ·
Reappointed: 10 October 2025 ·
Previous PM: François Bayrou ·
President: Emmanuel Macron (since 2017)

What has happened to Emmanuel Macron?

Macron’s political standing in 2025

Emmanuel Macron remains President of France, a position he has held since his election in May 2017 (Élysée, the official French presidency site). His term runs until 2027, with no early election mechanism under the Fifth Republic unless he resigns or is impeached — neither of which has happened. However, the past few months have tested his authority as the revolving door of prime ministers has accelerated.

The resignation and reappointment of his prime ministers

• 9 September 2025: Macron appoints Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, replacing François Bayrou whose government fell in a no-confidence vote (Wikipedia).
• 6 October 2025: Lecornu resigns after just 26 days, following a failed confidence vote tied to a budget dispute (Reuters).
• 10 October 2025: Macron reappoints Lecornu after negotiations, tasking him with forming a new government and crafting a budget (NPR).

The pattern: Macron has cycled through five prime ministers since 2017 — Édouard Philippe, Jean Castex, Élisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal, and now Lecornu — each serving shorter terms. The implication: Macron’s authority to command a stable parliamentary majority has eroded.

Who is the current Prime Minister of France?

Sébastien Lecornu: background and career

Sébastien Lecornu, born in 1986, is 39 years old and a member of the Renaissance party (formerly La République En Marche). Before becoming prime minister, he served as Minister of Defence under Macron (Wikipedia). He studied at the École des hautes études en sciences sociales and held local office as president of the Eure departmental council.

His appointment and resignation timeline

• 9 September 2025: Appointed PM by Macron (PBS NewsHour/AP).
• 6 October 2025: Resigns after 26 days — the shortest-lived government in Fifth Republic history (Wikipedia).
• 10 October 2025: Reappointed by Macron (Reuters).

Why did the French Prime Minister resign in 2025?

Immediate cause: budget dispute and parliamentary deadlock

Lecornu resigned on 6 October 2025 after a confidence vote failed in the National Assembly. The trigger was a dispute over the 2026 budget: Lecornu’s proposed spending cuts faced opposition from both left-wing and far-right blocs, leaving the government without a majority (Reuters). Adding to the drama, Lecornu had named his cabinet only 14 hours before resigning (Deutsche Welle).

Broader context: repeated government instability under Macron

Since losing an absolute majority in the 2022 legislative elections, Macron has struggled to build stable coalitions. Each prime minister has served increasingly shorter terms:

Six prime ministers in eight years, with the most recent lasting less than a month. The pattern: France’s semi-presidential system gives the president the right to appoint and dismiss the PM, but without a parliamentary majority, that power is hollow.

What is the role of the Prime Minister of France?

Constitutional powers under the Fifth Republic

Under Article 20 of the French Constitution, the government — headed by the prime minister — determines and conducts the policy of the nation (Constitute Project, the free online constitutional database). Article 21 further states that the prime minister directs government action and ensures the execution of laws (Constitute Project).

In practice, the PM handles domestic policy — from health and education to economic and fiscal planning — while the president focuses on foreign affairs, defence, and national security. The PM must maintain the confidence of the National Assembly, which can trigger a new appointment via a no-confidence vote.

Relationship with the President

Article 8 of the Constitution gives the president the power to appoint the prime minister — and to accept the government’s resignation (Constitute Project). The Élysée website confirms the process: the president appoints the PM, who then proposes ministers to the president for appointment (Élysée, the official French presidency site).

The trade-off: when the president and PM are from the same party (as with Macron and Lecornu), the PM acts as a subordinate manager. During periods of cohabitation — when the president and PM belong to opposing parties — the PM exercises far more autonomy, controlling the legislative agenda. The catch: Macron has never faced cohabitation, so the PM’s role under him is structurally weaker by design.

How is the Prime Minister of France different from the President?

Election and term length

The president is directly elected by popular vote for a five-year term (since the 2000 constitutional change) with no term limits in practice (Élysée). The prime minister, by contrast, is appointed by the president and serves at the president’s pleasure — there is no fixed term. A PM can be dismissed at any time, or can resign if they lose a confidence vote.

Three differences, one pattern:

The constitutional scholar from Verfassungsblog, a German academic constitutional law blog notes that Article 8 gives the president no timeline for appointing a PM, creating a practical discretion that Macron has used to reshuffle government rapidly. The implication: the PM’s tenure is entirely contingent on the president’s judgment and the Assembly’s mood — a structurally precarious position.

Timeline of French Prime Ministers under Macron

1. May 2017 — Emmanuel Macron elected President (Élysée).
2. June 2017–July 2020 — Édouard Philippe serves as PM.
3. July 2020–May 2022 — Jean Castex serves as PM.
4. May 2022–January 2024 — Élisabeth Borne serves as PM.
5. January 2024–September 2025 — Gabriel Attal serves as PM.
6. September 2025 — François Bayrou appointed PM, dismissed days later.
7. 9 September 2025 — Sébastien Lecornu appointed PM (PBS NewsHour/AP).
8. 6 October 2025 — Lecornu resigns after 26 days (Reuters).
9. 10 October 2025 — Macron reappoints Lecornu (Washington Post).

Clarity check: what we know and what remains uncertain

Quotes from the crisis

“France in fresh political crisis as PM Lecornu quits after 26 days. The immediate cause of his calamitous fin de régime is now clear.”

BBC News

“President Emmanuel Macron appointed Sébastien Lecornu as France’s prime minister on Tuesday, September 9, the day after François Bayrou was dismissed.”

Le Monde, the French daily newspaper

Sébastien Lecornu is prime minister on paper, but his tenure depends entirely on a fractured National Assembly and a president who keeps reshuffling the deck. For French citizens facing rising costs and a delayed budget, Macron must deliver a budget or dissolve the Assembly and bet on a snap election — a risk that could redefine France’s political landscape for the next two years.

Related reading: Michael Gove: From Cabinet Minister to Lord, Brexit and Biography

The political turmoil surrounding France’s prime minister is further detailed in an article covering Sébastien Lecornus resignation and reappointment.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: Michael Gove: From Cabinet Minister to Lord, Brexit and Biography — a look at another senior government figure’s career trajectory.