Macron nominates Sebastien Lecornu as new French PM

Lecornu, 39, has served as defense minister for over three years and is a close associate of Macron.

PARIS, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron nominated Sebastien Lecornu as the new prime minister on Tuesday.

The 39-year-old, who has served as the defense minister for over three years, is a close associate of Macron, local media reported.

Lecornu will be tasked with consulting political parties to "build the necessary agreements for decisions in the coming months," according to the Elysee.

On his social media account X, former French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, president of the political coalition Together for the Republic in the National Assembly, voiced his support for Lecornu, saying that it serves "the public interest."

Marine Le Pen, former presidential candidate of National Rally, commented that President Macron is "playing his last card of Macronism" following Lecornu's nomination.

Macron made the appointment one day after the outgoing Prime Minister Francois Bayrou and his cabinet were ousted on Monday in a parliamentary confidence vote over his plan to reduce public spending. Bayrou submitted his resignation earlier on Tuesday.

The handover of power between Bayrou and Lecornu is set to take place on Wednesday at noon at Matignon, the French prime minister's office. ■