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Macron loyalist Roland Lescure named France's new finance minister

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  Published in Business and Finance on Sunday, October 5th 2025 at 16:55 GMT by The Straits Times
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France Names Roland Lescure, a Macron Loyalist, as New Finance Minister

In a move that signals a deepening of President Emmanuel Macron’s technocratic approach, the French government has tapped Roland Lescure – a close aide to the president who served as chief of staff and briefly as interior minister – to replace Bruno Le Maire as finance minister. The appointment, announced on February 28 2024, comes as France faces a confluence of domestic economic pressures, rising inflation, and a fraught relationship with European fiscal rules.

A technocrat with deep ties to the presidency

Lescure, 46, is a seasoned political operative who has been a staple in Macron’s inner circle since the 2017 inauguration. He joined the newly formed French presidency as its first chief of staff, a role he held until 2020, before moving on to serve as Minister of the Interior in 2014–2015 under the Valls government. His career has been shaped by a blend of engineering and political science, having studied at the prestigious École Polytechnique and Sciences Po before earning a Master’s in Economics.

“The appointment of Roland Lescure is a clear indication of the trust that Emmanuel Macron places in his most loyal advisers,” said a spokesperson for the French presidency. “Lescure’s background in public administration and policy design makes him uniquely suited to steer the country’s fiscal agenda.”

The new finance minister will inherit an office that has long been a battleground between political and technocratic priorities. Bruno Le Maire, who had led the ministry since 2017, had announced his resignation earlier this year, citing the need to focus on other responsibilities within the cabinet and to prepare for the upcoming election cycle. Le Maire’s departure left a vacuum that Lescure is poised to fill.

Steering France’s finances amid rising inflation

France’s economy is currently battling a double‑demand squeeze: the cost of living crisis has pushed inflation past 8% in recent months, while the country’s public debt—already hovering around 110% of GDP—has continued to climb. Lescure will be tasked with addressing both issues, implementing a series of measures aimed at restoring fiscal stability and boosting growth.

Key policy areas will include:

• Tax reform: Lescure is expected to push forward the overhaul of France’s income‑tax system, a plan that has been stalled in previous cabinets due to political opposition. The proposed reforms would reduce the top marginal tax rate from 45% to 43%, a move that could be pivotal in maintaining public confidence in the government's economic stewardship.

• Cost‑of‑living relief: The new finance minister is expected to strengthen the “revenu de solidarité active” and the “allocation d’hébergement” programs, which provide direct support to low‑income households. These measures are seen as essential in mitigating the impact of soaring energy prices.

• European fiscal coordination: With the European Union tightening its fiscal rules and launching a new monitoring framework, Lescure’s role will extend beyond France’s borders. He will need to work closely with the European Commission and other member states to align France’s budgetary discipline with EU standards.

A cabinet reshuffle with wider implications

The reshuffle that brought Lescure to the finance ministry is part of a broader reorganization of the French cabinet that President Macron announced in early March. The reshuffle, aimed at injecting fresh talent and reinforcing Macron’s policy agenda, also created a new “Ministry of the Budget” that will be overseen by Finance Minister Lescure. This structural change signals an attempt to streamline fiscal policy and make the French government more responsive to the economic challenges of the 2020s.

Lescure’s appointment has drawn praise from the business community. “We welcome Roland Lescure’s arrival,” said Jean‑Michel Ruhl, chief executive of the French Chamber of Commerce. “His background as chief of staff gives him a unique insight into the political dynamics that shape fiscal policy, and we look forward to a more streamlined and predictable regulatory environment.”

However, not everyone is convinced. Critics have pointed to Lescure’s close ties to Macron as a potential source of echo‑chamber politics. “We need an independent, policy‑driven finance minister,” argued Pierre‑Claude Lévy, a senior analyst at the French Institute for International Affairs. “While Lescure’s technocratic credentials are impressive, his lack of a formal record in fiscal policy may be a limitation.”

Looking ahead

Lescure will take the helm at a crucial juncture. The 2024 budget will need to be approved by the National Assembly before the summer recess, and the European Commission will be reviewing France’s fiscal compliance in the coming weeks. In the immediate term, Lescure’s priorities will likely focus on curbing inflation, stabilising public debt, and negotiating a smoother relationship with the EU’s fiscal oversight mechanisms.

As France’s new finance minister, Lescure is already signaling a willingness to combine pragmatic policy-making with the ideological tenets of the centrist “New Popular” movement that has underpinned Macron’s political brand. Whether his tenure will usher in a new era of fiscal conservatism, or prove a more cautious and data‑driven approach to budgetary planning remains to be seen.

In the words of Lescure himself, “The challenge is not only to keep France on a sustainable fiscal path but to do so in a way that protects the most vulnerable and keeps the economy moving forward.” The coming months will test whether that promise translates into concrete, positive outcomes for the French people.