Sebastien Lecornu

Sebastien Lecornu is the Prime Minister of France, leading a weak minority government. He is currently newsworthy due to his struggle to pass crucial legislation, particularly the 2026 budget. Recently, Lecornu has faced and survived multiple no-confidence votes in parliament. These motions were brought forward by opposition parties, including the far-right National Rally and the hard-left, primarily in protest of the European Union’s trade agreement with the MERCOSUR bloc. Despite these challenges, Lecornu successfully passed the 2026 budget, which includes a $7.6 million military spending increase and aims to cut the deficit to 5 percent by the end of 2026. He also secured a crucial vote on a social security budget bill, a victory that strengthened his position ahead of the main budget vote. Lecornu's ability to maintain his position and pass key legislation is significant for France's stability and its role within the European Union, particularly regarding trade agreements like the one with Mercosur, which France has urged the EU to delay voting on.