French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Sébastien Lecornu as the new prime minister, one day after the National Assembly voted out François Bayrou’s government.
Lecornu, 39, previously served as armed forces minister and is considered one of Macron’s closest allies.
He becomes the seventh prime minister of the Macron presidency and the fifth since the start of Macron’s second term.
Lecornu faces an immediate challenge in steering a new budget through parliament.
Bayrou fell after putting his proposal, which included €44bn in spending cuts, to a confidence vote that was rejected by 364 votes to 194.
France’s debt has risen to €3.3tn, representing 114% of GDP, and credit rating agency Fitch is due to reassess the country’s outlook later this week.
The appointment has divided opinion. Centrist partners, including Marc Fesneau of MoDem, urged parties to find compromise for financial stability.
Édouard Philippe, Macron’s first prime minister, praised Lecornu’s debating skills and said he would need Socialist backing to avoid fresh elections.
Opposition voices reacted sharply. Jean-Luc Mélenchon of France Unbowed argued nothing had changed, while Marine Le Pen accused Macron of relying on loyalists.
Socialist leader Olivier Faure, who hinted at cooperation, said he was not approached.
Meanwhile, protest group Bloquons Tout is planning large demonstrations on Wednesday, with 80,000 police expected to be deployed.
Lecornu, in his first statement, pledged to build a government focused on national strength, independence, and stability.