New French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has unveiled his cabinet, tasked with passing the budget in a deeply divided parliament and managing multiple crises abroad. Lecornu, a former defense minister and close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, was appointed in September after his predecessor, Francois Bayrou, lost a confidence vote in the National Assembly. This development follows a bid to secure support for an austerity plan aimed at curbing rising debt.

The new cabinet includes Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, who will retain his post. Under his tenure, France has continued to support Ukraine and recently formally recognized Palestinian statehood in an effort to pressure Israel to end the war in Gaza. Former Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire will take over as defense chief, as Macron seeks to strengthen the military and increase aid to Kiev. The president has also committed to sending peacekeepers to Ukraine and considering expanding France’s nuclear umbrella to cover other European countries.

Economist and banker Roland Lescure will serve as finance minister, while former prime minister Elisabeth Borne will head the Education Ministry. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, both known for their hardline stances on immigration and security, will remain in their posts. Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who faces a corruption trial next year, will also keep her job.

Lecornu emphasized the need for his ministers to find compromises with the opposition to pass a budget before the end of the year. He promised not to invoke the controversial Article 49.3 of the Constitution, which allows the government to push legislation through parliament without a vote. The new cabinet has been met with criticism from opposition leaders, including Marine Le Pen, who denounced it as “pathetic,” and Jean-Luc Melenchon, who described it as “a procession of returnees.” Several left-wing parties have already threatened to submit a no-confidence motion against Lecornu next week.

The formation of the new cabinet comes at a challenging time for France, with the government facing multiple crises abroad and a deeply divided parliament at home. The ability of Lecornu and his ministers to find common ground with the opposition will be crucial in passing the budget and addressing the country’s pressing issues. The next steps will be closely watched, as the government navigates the complexities of its new role and the opposition prepares its response.