STORY: Reappointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Saturday (October 11) urged France's political parties to work together to put an end to the "ridiculous spectacle" seen in recent days, as he faces a Monday (October 13) deadline to present a budget.

President Emmanuel Macron's decision to reappoint Lecornu has enraged some of his fiercest opponents who argue the only way out of France's worst political crisis in decades is for the president to call fresh legislative elections or resign.

Lecornu criticized the political deadlock that has gripped the country. "What is ridiculous is the spectacle that the entire political world has been putting on for several days now," he said.

The prime minister urged political parties to overcome their differences to pass a budget by the end of the year, a crucial step in bringing France's widening fiscal deficit under control.

"I am setting myself a fairly clear mission, and then either the political forces will help me and we will work together to achieve it, or they will not," Lecornu said.

Leftist, hard-left and far-right parties all said they would vote to topple Lecornu, leaving him reliant on the Socialists, whose leaders have so far kept mum on their plans.

It remains to be seen what he will do about repealing Macron's pensions reform and adding a billionaires' tax - two measures the Socialists had made their price to support his government.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: L’HAY-LES-ROSES, FRANCE (OCTOBER 11, 2025) (AGENCY POOL - Access All)

1. POLICE STATION

2. FRENCH PRIME MINISTER SEBASTIEN LECORNU SHAKING HANDS WITH PARIS POLICE PREFECT LAURENT NUNEZ, L’HAY-LES-ROSES MAYOR VINCENT JEANBRUN, AND OTHER MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS AND POLICE OFFICIALS

3. JEANBRUN AND MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS STANDING

4. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRIME MINISTER SEBASTIEN LECORNU SAYING:

“I think we need to form a government that reflects the reality of parliament. This is essential. It's a democracy and this is the most parliamentary moment of the Fifth Republic. But ultimately, it must also now be a government that is not held hostage to certain partisan interests.”

5. JEANBRUN ESCORTING LECORNU INSIDE POLICE STATION

6. LECORNU SPEAKING TO POLICE OFFICER

7. OFFICE IN POLICE STATION

8. LECORNU LISTENING TO NUNEZ

9. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRIME MINISTER SEBASTIEN LECORNU SAYING:

“I think what is ridiculous is the spectacle that the entire political world has been putting on for several days now. I was clear at the beginning of the week, the mission was over. Well, it turns out that it was urgent to provide economic and financial texts and present them on time, and alongside that is the issue and the emergency situation related to New Caledonia- this made the mission difficult I think. I wasn’t under the impression that there were a lot of candidates, to be perfectly honest.”

10. VARIOUS OF LECORNU SPEAKING TO OFFICERS ON WEEKEND SHIFT AT POLICE STATION

11. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRIME MINISTER SEBASTIEN LECORNU SAYING:

“I don't have an agenda. I have no other ambition than to get out of this situation, which is objectively very difficult for everyone. So I am setting myself a fairly clear mission, and then either the political forces will help me and we will work together to achieve it, or they will not. This is how we ensure that on December 31st there is a budget for social security and a budget for the state, and that we would’ve dealt with some emergencies.”

13. (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH PRIME MINISTER Sebastian LECORNU SAYING:

JOURNALIST ASKING: “Are you ready to accept the immediate and complete suspension of the pension reforms?”

LECORNU: “This is an opportunity to revisit these issues. Afterwards, as I’ve told you, I believe all debates are possible as long as they are within a realistic framework, including on budgetary issues, and defence issues.”

14. VARIOUS OF LECORNU GREETING POLICE OFFICERS

15. POLICE OFFICERS STANDING

16. VARIOUS OF LECORNU LISTENING, AS DIFFERENT POLICE OFFICER SPEAKS

17. POLICE OFFICERS LISTENING

18. LECORNU ADDRESSING POLICE OFFICERS

19. LECORNU SPEAKING TO ELDERLY MAN OUTSIDE POLICE STATION