By Geert De Clercq

Member of parliament Roland Lescure of the Ensemble pour la Republique (EPR) parliamentary group, speaks as he attends a political rally of the Renaissance party in Saint-Denis near Paris, France, April 6, 2025. REUTERS/Tom Nicholson Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

PARIS, Oct 5 (Reuters) – Roland Lescure, a close ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, was appointed finance minister in a new government led by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, the Elysee palace said on Sunday.

Former finance minister Bruno Le Maire was appointed defence minister. Several key ministers remained in their post, including Jean-Noel Barrot at the foreign ministry, Bruno Retailleau at the interior ministry and Gerald Darmanin at the justice ministry.

Lescure, who has a left-wing background, and his prime minister now faces the challenge of brokering a compromise on next year’s budget in a fractious parliament ahead of an year-end deadline.

Budget talks have grown increasingly fraught, requiring delicate trade-offs between three ideologically opposed blocs in a hung parliament.

Lecornu’s two predecessors were ousted over efforts to rein in France’s budget deficit — the largest in the euro zone — at a time when ratings agencies and investors are closely watching.

In a bid to win over the Socialists, Lecornu proposed a wealth tax long demanded by the left, while excluding business owners’ assets to shield companies and jobs.

He has also ruled out using special constitutional powers to push the budget through parliament without a vote.

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