- Sébastien Lecorn was appointed Prime Minister of France by President Emmanuel Macron after the defeat of François Bayrou in a vote on a vote of trust
- Lecorn, a 39-year-old politician, is the only minister who remained in the government from the choice of Macron in 2017, known for its loyalty and effectiveness
- As a defense minister, Lecorn played a key role in increasing the defense expenditure on France, introducing the Military Planning Act for 2024–2030
Tonight the President of France Emmanuel Macron appointed a discreet defense minister to the next prime minister after François Bayrou He suffered a terrible defeat in Monday's vote on a vote of trust.
This 39-year-old politician is the only minister who remained in the government since the selection of Macron in 2017 has survived countless personnel changes and early elections. “He was very successful in the world of Macron,” says a parliamentary official. – He has something with survivor“.
Over the past seven years, Lecorn strengthened his position as a loyal Macron's ally, improving the political style that harmonizes well with the president's style – in particular his commitment to local policy. In addition to performing a governmental function, Lecorn is a councilor in his native region of Normandy, where he spends most weekends.
The minister does not expose himself publicly, does not reveal too many details about his private life and retains a restrained attitude towards the outside world. He also denied that he had the ambition to take the position of the prime minister – among other candidates was his long -time friend and ally, the Minister of Justice Gérald DarmaninMinister of Work and Health Catherine vautrin and the Minister of Economy Éric Lombard.
Behind the closed door of Lecorn, however, it is much more lively – and the French circles of power are commonly considered to be a skillful politician. – During the debate you can ask him the same question three times, and he knows how not to answer [gdy nie chce]at the same time giving the impression that he is a good listener – says a senator from the opposition party, describing him as “extremely skillful”.
At the age of 19, Lecorn began his political career as the youngest parliamentary assistant in France. Originally a member of the conservative party Les Républicains, he worked on gaining respect for all sides of the political scene – from ensuring the trust of Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron After organizing somewhat controversial dinners with the leader of the extreme right Marine Le Pen.
Maintaining this popularity is easier thanks to the wide consensus in France as to the need to strengthen the country's armed forces and better equipment for conducting intensive warfare.
Since Russia began a full invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lecorn – being a reservist in Gendarmerie nationale – He also became the face of French arms. In 2023, he led a parliamentary vote over the new Military Planning Act, which provided for defense expenses of EUR 413 billion in 2024–2030. His dog Tiga runs freely in the corridors of the Ministry of Defense.
Lecornu has close connections with his German counterpart Boris Pistoriusanother defense minister who survived the early election. However, although the Frenchman is great at building bilateral, personal relationships, he does not feel so free in multilateral situations, including during EU meetings regarding foreign affairs and defense in Brussels, which he most often forgives. Last year, former prime minister Michel Barnier He was supposed to tell him that he would appear more often in the actual capital of the EU.
“He is not very European in his way of thinking,” said one of the industry representatives.
Lecorn, an ardent supporter of the sovereignty of France, sometimes expressed distrust of EU institutions, especially the European Commission. In his speeches he often recalls the architect of the fifth republic Charles de Gaulle and the Minister of the Armed Forces De Gaulle, Pierre Messmer.
Part of the minister's legacy has already been recorded, says the parliamentary clerk mentioned above: – The image he wants to leave – and who will leave – is the image of the person responsible for reinforcement of France.
