New French PM pledges 'humility' as thousands take to the streets

The new French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, promised a "profound break" with past politics as he took over yesterday from the unpopular centrist François Bayrou, who was ousted this week over a proposed budget squeeze.

- Angelique Chrisafis

Lecornu, 39, who said "humility" was the key approach, now faces the difficult task of gaining enough support from France's divided parliament to pass a budget if he is to avoid being swiftly ousted in the same way as Bayrou, and before him, the right-wing Michel Barnier, who only lasted three months. "We will get there... no path is impossible," Lecornu said.

Lecornu is the third French prime minister in only a year as the country has gone through a period of instability and political crisis since the centrist president, Emmanuel Macron, called an inconclusive snap election last year.

The parliament remains divided between the three blocs: the left, the far right and the centre, with no clear majority. A budget for next year must be agreed within the coming weeks, even though the political parties are at loggerheads.