France’s new prime minister Sébastien Lecornu opposed gay marriage

Sébastien Lecornu, pictured.

Sébastien Lecornu has been named as France’s new prime minister. (Eric BERACASSAT/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

Sébastien Lecornu has been named as France’s new prime minister, but France’s LGBTQ+ community may be feeling less than enthused about the appointment given his past opposition to gay marriage

On Tuesday (9 September), French president Emmanuel Macron named loyalist Lecornu as prime minister. 

The appointment of Lecornu, who rallied behind Macron’s 2017 presidential run, is a clear indicator that Macron will defy expectations of swaying centre left in a bid to broaden his minority government. 

As reported by Reuters, the 39-year-old has become Macron’s fifth prime minister in less than two years after parliament ousted Francois Bayrou on Monday over his plans to tame the country’s crippling debt.

As noted by the BBC, France’s public debt hit €3.3tn (£2.8tn) earlier this year and represents 114 per cent of the country’s economic output or GDP.

However, his stance on the LGBTQ+ community is cause for concern. 

Lecornu publicly expressed opposition to same-sex marriage in 2012 while he was a mayoral candidate, declaring that “gay communitarianism frustrates [him] as much as homophobia”. He added that “marriage is the basis for building a family in our societies. And a family is built between a man and a woman.” 

Following his appointment, Lecornu posted on X: ”The President of the Republic has entrusted me with the task of building a government with a clear direction: the defense of our independence and our power, the service of the French people, and political and institutional stability. 

“I wish to thank him for the confidence he has shown me by appointing me Prime Minister.”

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His opposition to same-sex marriage has already caused outrage among many, with one X user referencing his prior comments and writing under his post: “Don’t worry, we’re going to quickly get rid of you Sébastien!”

As prime minister, Lecornu’s first port of call will be to forge consensus on a budget for 2026 amid France’s spiralling public debt.  

Lecornu most recently served as Macron’s defence minister.

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