Republicans condition participation in Lecornu government
As Sébastien Lecornu prepares to form a new French government, Les Républicains leader Bruno Retailleau continues to condition his party's participation. Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen of the National Rally threatens to censure the government during its general policy declaration.
On October 4, 2025, Bruno Retailleau, president of Les Républicains (LR), reiterated that his party's participation in the future government led by Sébastien Lecornu remains conditioned on specific demands. In an interview with Le Monde, Retailleau stated: 'We will not join a government without guarantees on budgetary and security priorities.' This stance follows ongoing discussions over several weeks on the government's composition amid the recent political crisis.
The background traces to Sébastien Lecornu's potential appointment as Prime Minister, aimed at stabilizing the parliamentary majority. Les Républicains, with 61 deputies, represent key support to avoid immediate censure. Retailleau emphasizes conservative fiscal measures and firmness on immigration, without specifying a final decision timeline.
The day before, on October 3, 2025, Marine Le Pen sharpened her tone. The National Rally (RN) president threatened to vote no confidence against Lecornu during his upcoming general policy declaration. 'If the Lecornu government fails to meet French expectations on the economy and sovereignty, we will censure without hesitation,' she told Le Monde. With 143 seats in the Assembly, RN could ally with left-wing oppositions to topple the cabinet.
These statements highlight tensions within French right-wing politics. On one side, LR seeks to influence the executive without breaking traditional alliances; on the other, RN adopts a frontal opposition posture. No major contradictions arise between sources, which confirm uncertainty around the Lecornu government's survival. The implications are clear: without compromise, a governmental crisis could emerge in the coming weeks, threatening political stability in France.