Sébastien Lecornu Becomes France’s New Prime Minister Amid Protests and Rising Tensions

France has appointed Sébastien Lecornu, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, as its new prime minister—the fourth in just a year. His arrival comes during nationwide protests under the slogan Bloquons Tout (“Block Everything”), with demonstrators furious over budget cuts and rising living costs. Strikes and blockades are disrupting schools, transport, and supply chains, while financial markets grow uneasy about France’s economic stability. Lecornu now faces the critical task of bridging the widening gap between government and citizens while reassuring investors and restoring trust at home and abroad.