President Emmanuel Macron has named close ally Sébastien Lecornu as France's new prime minister, the Elysée Palace announced, a day after a parliamentary confidence vote removed François Bayrou from the post.
The presidency said Lecornu has been given the immediate task of consulting political parties with the aim of securing adoption of France's next budget. Bayrou visited the president hours before the announcement to hand in his resignation, clearing the way for the change of leadership. Lecornu would become the fifth prime minister of Macron's second term.
Macron's decision follows political turbulence in recent weeks that culminated in a confidence vote which saw Bayrou lose the support of the legislature. The Elysée said the consultations Lecornu undertakes will focus on forging agreement across parties to pass the government's budget proposals, a central immediate priority for the new prime minister.
Lecornu, described by the presidency as a close ally of Macron, had been among the favourites to succeed Bayrou. The Elysée did not provide a timetable for the consultations or for when an official government programme would be presented to parliament. Legislative support will be critical as the government seeks to shepherd its budget through a fragmented assembly.
Bayrou's resignation followed his meeting with Macron and comes amid a period of repeated cabinet changes since the start of the president's second term. The swap of prime ministers marks another shift in the executive branch as Macron seeks to restore stability and advance fiscal measures ahead of upcoming legislative deadlines.
Political leaders across the spectrum are expected to meet Lecornu in the coming days as he undertakes consultations aimed at building consensus. The outcome of those talks will determine the government's capacity to pass the budget and set the policy priorities for the months ahead.
Further details about the composition of the new cabinet, the schedule for the consultations and Macron's broader strategy are likely to be released by the Elysée in the coming hours and days.