New French PM Lecornu opens political talks facing budget squeeze

France's new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu began his second day in office with talks with the leaders of the parliamentary chambers.

Lecornu faces the uphill task of building a majority for his agenda, after two previous prime ministers were ousted by lawmakers in the span of nine months.

The former defence minister, who is a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, met on Thursday with Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of the National Assembly, and Gérard Larcher, president of the Senate.

France is heavily indebted, and Lecornu faces pressure to present a budget for the coming year with planned savings.

But the National Assembly, or lower house, has been divided among three factions since last year's snap elections: Macron's centrist camp, a left-wing alliance and Marine Le Pen's far-right nationalist bloc. As none of the factions have an absolute majority, the parliament is deadlocked.

Lecornu's two immediate predecessors - Michel Barnier and François Bayrou - both lost confidence votes as they tried to push through unpopular austerity measures in the eurozone's second-biggest economy.

After meeting Lecornu, Braun-Pivet said the French want to see politicians unite: "It is up to the prime minister to create this momentum, and up to members of parliament to overcome divisions to move our country forward."

Lecornu will consult with political forces across the country to prepare a budget and reach agreements on future decisions, the Élysée Palace said this week.

On Wednesday, the same day that Lecornu was sworn into office, nearly 200,000 people protested in nationwide demonstrations and blockades against austerity measures. Some clashes occurred, and 675 people were arrested.

The protests had been planned for weeks, even before the previous government of Bayrou fell on Monday and Lecornu was named by Macron as prime minister.