When Sébastien Lecornu accepted the role of France’s prime minister in September 2025, few expected his tenure to last just 27 days — and then start again. This article pieces together the rapid chain of events: his appointment, resignation, and immediate reappointment, while also answering common questions about President Macron, the political situation, and even the personal life that draws so much public curiosity. By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of who leads France right now and what this turbulent start means.
Current Prime Minister: Sébastien Lecornu ·
Appointed: 9 September 2025 ·
Resigned: 6 October 2025 ·
Re-appointed: 10 October 2025 ·
President: Emmanuel Macron
Quick snapshot
- Sébastien Lecornu (Reuters (international news agency))
- Appointed 9 Sep 2025 (Reuters (international news agency))
- Resigned 6 Oct 2025 (Reuters (international news agency))
- Re-appointed 10 Oct 2025 (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- Emmanuel Macron (AP News (US news agency))
- Term ends 2027 (CNN (US cable news network))
- Cannot run again (Le Monde (French daily newspaper))
- Confidence vote triggers PM resignation (France 24 (French international news channel))
- Macron appoints loyalist Lecornu (DW (German public broadcaster))
- Lecornu presents 2027 budget (France 24 (French international news channel))
- Married to Brigitte Macron (25-year age gap) (BBC News (UK public broadcaster))
- Met as teacher–student (Reuters (international news agency))
- Brigitte has three children from first marriage (Le Monde (French daily newspaper))
Seven key facts, one pattern: the French executive is experiencing its most volatile month in years, with a PM who resigned after less than a month and was then asked to try again.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Current PM | Sébastien Lecornu |
| President | Emmanuel Macron |
| PM appointment date | 9 September 2025 |
| PM resignation date | 6 October 2025 |
| PM re‑appointment date | 10 October 2025 |
| Macron term end | 2027 |
| Age gap (Macron & wife) | 25 years |
Who is the current PM of France?
Sébastien Lecornu: appointment and resignation timeline
Sébastien Lecornu became prime minister on , when President Macron tapped the loyalist to lead the government (Reuters (international news agency)). His first tenure lasted a mere 27 days. On , Lecornu resigned after presenting a new cabinet that immediately lost the confidence of a key coalition partner (AP News). Just four days later, on , Macron reappointed him and asked him to try again to form a government (BBC News).
Lecornu’s first government lasted barely a month. The re‑appointment gives him a reset, but the budget deadline and party opposition leave little room for error.
Previous roles and political affiliation
Lecornu has long been a close ally of Macron, serving as Minister of the Armed Forces from 2022 to 2025 before moving into the prime minister’s role. He belongs to Macron’s centrist party, Renaissance (Le Monde).
The implication: Having a PM who quit after days and then returned to the same post is unprecedented in modern French politics. The Élysée clearly sees Lecornu as the only viable option to push through the contentious 2027 budget.
Who is France’s president now?
Emmanuel Macron as President
Emmanuel Macron remains the President of France. First elected in 2017, he was re‑elected in 2022 for a second term (CNN (US cable news network)). He appoints the prime minister and holds the power to dissolve the National Assembly, but the day‑to‑day governance of the country is managed by the prime minister and the cabinet.
Macron’s term and political power
Macron’s second and final term runs until May 2027. Under the French Constitution, presidents cannot serve more than two consecutive terms (DW (German public broadcaster)). So regardless of the political turmoil, Macron will remain president until the next election, though his influence depends on maintaining a working majority in parliament.
What this means: Even with a prime minister who resigned and was reappointed, Macron’s own position has not faltered. He still controls foreign policy and defence, but the budget crisis is testing his ability to govern from the centre.
What has happened to Emmanuel Macron?
Macron’s political situation after confidence vote
The trigger for Lecornu’s resignation was a confidence vote that Macron’s government lost after months of stagnation. The original cabinet collapsed because opposition to its composition, including criticism from a key coalition partner, made it untenable (AP News). Macron accepted the resignation and then, after consultations, decided to keep Lecornu on the job (Le Monde).
Appointment of new PM Lecornu
Macron’s entourage indicated that Lecornu had been given carte blanche to form a government (BBC News). France 24 reported that Lecornu warned his next cabinet must not be “held hostage” by political parties (France 24 (French international news channel)). The reappointment is seen as part of an effort to end France’s political deadlock and deliver the 2026 budget bill by an end‑of‑the‑week deadline (France 24).
A prime minister who resigns and is then reappointed four days later is a symptom of a deeper crisis. France is stuck between a president who cannot run again and a parliament that refuses to cooperate — and the public is watching a government that can’t hold itself together.
Macron’s approval ratings
While exact approval figures aren’t included in the verified data, the turbulent month has not helped Macron’s standing. The political chaos has further eroded trust in the centrist majority, leaving Macron with fewer options to advance his agenda.
The trade‑off: Keeping Lecornu signals continuity, but the same opposition that forced the first resignation still exists. The next budget vote will be the true test.
How long will Macron rule France?
Presidential term limits in France
French presidents are elected for five‑year terms. Since the 2008 constitutional reform, a president may serve a maximum of two consecutive terms (Le Monde). Macron was first elected in 2017 and re‑elected in 2022; his second term ends in 2027.
Macron’s current term timeline
That means Macron has about 18 months left as of October 2025. He cannot run for a third consecutive term, so French politics is already speculating about the 2027 presidential election and who might succeed him (CNN).
The pattern: Macron is a lame‑duck president in all but name. His leverage comes from his ability to appoint the PM and dissolve parliament, but the real power will shift to the next election cycle.
Why is Emmanuel Macron married to such an older woman?
Age gap between Macron and Brigitte
Brigitte Macron is 25 years older than Emmanuel Macron. She was born in 1953, he in 1977 (Reuters).
How they met
They met when Brigitte was Emmanuel’s drama teacher at a high school in Amiens. Emmanuel was 15, Brigitte was 40 and married with three children (BBC News). The relationship became public after his parents confronted him, but the couple stayed together and later married in 2007.
Brigitte’s background
Brigitte Macron (née Trogneux) comes from a well‑known chocolatier family in northern France. She has three children from her first marriage to André‑Louis Auzière, and she continues to play an active role in Macron’s political life, often appearing alongside him at official events (Le Monde).
The catch: The age gap is an enduring topic of public fascination, but it has also made Brigitte a target of scrutiny that goes far beyond typical political spouse coverage. For Macron, the relationship is a deeply personal anchor in a career otherwise defined by ambition and turmoil.
Timeline of the crisis
- 9 September 2025: Sébastien Lecornu appointed Prime Minister of France (Reuters)
- ≈ 1 October 2025: Lecornu presents 2027 belt‑tightening budget (France 24)
- 6 October 2025: Lecornu resigns after losing confidence vote (AP News)
- 10 October 2025: Lecornu re‑appointed as PM by President Macron (BBC News)
Certainty & uncertainty
Confirmed facts
- Sébastien Lecornu is the current PM as of October 2025 (BBC News)
- Appointment, resignation, and re‑appointment dates as listed (Reuters, AP News)
- Emmanuel Macron is President of France (CNN)
What’s unclear
- Whether Lecornu will remain PM for the full term
- Macron’s future political plans after 2027
- Impact of budget on public opinion
- Brigitte Macron’s exact age gap (25 years) – well‑sourced but not independently verifiable from French civil records in this context
Quotes from the news cycle
“Macron names ally Sébastien Lecornu as new French PM”
— BBC News headline, 9 September 2025 (BBC News)
“French PM presents belt‑tightening 2027 budget, including frozen wages and new taxes”
— France 24 report, October 2025 (France 24)
Summary: what the turbulence means
The spectacle of a prime minister resigning after 27 days and being reappointed four days later is more than a procedural oddity — it exposes a government that is running out of political capital. Macron, with barely 18 months left in office, needs Lecornu to push through an unpopular budget while facing a hostile parliament. For French voters, the choice is clear: either this government stabilises and delivers, or France drifts into a deeper gridlock that will define the run‑up to the 2027 election.
npr.org, washingtonpost.com, ndtv.com, english.ahram.org.eg, aljazeera.com
Frequently asked questions
What is the role of the French Prime Minister?
The Prime Minister is the head of government in France, responsible for domestic policy and overseeing the day‑to‑day running of the country. The President sets the broad direction, especially on foreign and defence policy, but the PM manages the cabinet and the legislative agenda.
How is the French Prime Minister appointed?
The President appoints the Prime Minister. There is no formal vote in the National Assembly, but because the Assembly can pass a motion of no confidence, the PM must be able to command a majority or at least avoid a rebellion.
What political party does Sébastien Lecornu belong to?
He belongs to Renaissance, the centrist party founded by Emmanuel Macron. Previously he was part of The Republicans (LR) before shifting to Macron’s camp in 2017.
How old is Sébastien Lecornu?
Born in 1986, he is 39 years old as of October 2025.
What was the vote of confidence that led to Lecornu’s resignation?
The government faced a confidence vote after opposition parties refused to back the cabinet that Lecornu had just unveiled. The vote failed, leaving him unable to govern, and he resigned immediately.
Will Emmanuel Macron resign before 2027?
There is no indication that Macron plans to resign. He remains president and intends to serve out his term. The reappointment of Lecornu signals that he wants to stabilize the government rather than trigger an early presidential election.
How does the French presidential term limit work?
Since the 2008 constitutional reform, a president is limited to two consecutive five‑year terms. Macron is serving his second term, which ends in 2027, and cannot run again.
George Harry Howard Bennett is a staff writer for Public Journal UK, specializing in UK news, policy analysis, and public affairs coverage. He works under Editor-in-Chief Margaret Ellison, maintaining high standards of sourcing, verification, and fact-checking. Bennett reports on Westminster, government policy, and societal issues, providing balanced and accurate journalism with timely insight.