breaking news

Former Defense Minister Lecornu is set to become France's new head of government. He is considered a close confidant of President Macron.

French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed former Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister. Lecornu succeeds François Bayrou, who resigned after losing a vote of confidence.

Lecornu, 39, was already in the running for prime minister last December, but Macron ultimately chose Bayrou. Lecornu had once left the conservative Les Republicains party and joined Macron's centrist political movement when Macron was first elected in 2017. Five years later, he led Macron's re-election campaign.

Lecornu is already the fifth head of government under Macron in less than two years. Among other things, he faces the task of getting a budget through the divisive and deeply divided parliament.