PARIS (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron named loyalist Sebastien Lecornu, a one-time conservative protege who rallied behind his 2017 presidential run, as prime minister on Tuesday, defying expectations he might tack towards the left.
Below are quotes from leading politicians from the ruling coalition as well as from the opposition.
MARINE LE PEN, PRESIDENT OF THE FAR-RIGHT NATIONAL RALLY (RN) GROUP IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
“The President is firing the last shot of Macronism, holed up in his bunker with his small group of loyalists. After the inevitable future legislative elections, the Prime Minister will be Jordan Bardella.”
JORDAN BARDELLA, RN PARTY LEADER
“Emmanuel Macron’s motto: you don’t change a losing team. How could a loyal supporter of the president break with the policy he has been pursuing for eight years?
We will judge the new Prime Minister – without illusions – on his actions, his decisions, and his plans for France’s budget, and we will do so in light of our red lines.”
JEAN-LUC MELENCHON, CHAIRMAN OF THE FAR-LEFT FRANCE UNBOWED PARTY
“Macron’s response to Bayrou’s reversal: from now on, it’s exactly as it was before.
Only Macron’s departure can put an end to this sad comedy of contempt for Parliament, voters, and political decency.”
MATHILDE PANOT, PRESIDENT OF THE FRANCE UNBOWED GROUP IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY
“The appointment of Sebastien Lecornu on the eve of the September 10 movement is a provocation. The same policy for the rich, a minority in the Assembly and in the country. Lecornu, who responded to the Yellow Vests … with nothing but repression. The man who dines with Le Pen. We will censure him. Let’s block everything to get rid of Macron.
OLIVIER FAURE, SOCIALIST PARTY CHIEF
“With the appointment of Sebastien Lecornu to Matignon, Emmanuel Macron is stubbornly pursuing a path that no socialist will participate in.
Without social, fiscal, and ecological justice, without measures to boost purchasing power, the same causes will produce the same effects.”
BRUNO RETAILLEAU, INTERIOR MINISTER IN BAYROU’S OUTGOING GOVERNMENT
“I am happy that the president has not chosen a Socialist prime minister… I believe that in order to break the deadlock, we need to build a project that satisfies the national majority … we need more security, less immigration, there is consensus about that among a large part of the French population. Many people also believe that the state needs to tighten its belt.”
JEAN-NOEL BARROT, FINANCE MINISTER IN BAYROU’S OUTGOING GOVERNMENT
“Congratulations to Sebastien Lecornu on his appointment as Prime Minister. He has all the qualities needed to create the conditions for compromise and ensure the stability that our country so desperately needs in an increasingly brutal world.”
MICHEL BARNIER, FORMER PRIME MINISTER BEFORE BAYROU
“This is a sensible appointment, given the international context.”
EDOUARD PHILIPPE, FORMER PRIME MINISTER UNDER MACRON
“Sebastien Lecornu is a talented young man who knows how to negotiate.”
(Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
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