French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Sébastien Lecornu as the new prime minister, replacing François Bayrou just a day after a vote of confidence led to Bayrou’s ousting.

Lecornu, 39, previously served as armed forces minister, where he focused on France’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and is now tasked with consulting political parties to adopt the nation’s next budget.

Bayrou’s government fell after his proposed €44 billion in budget cuts failed to gain support in the National Assembly, highlighting the challenges of leading a minority government.

Lecornu’s appointment has been welcomed by centrist allies, but it has drawn criticism from both the far left and far right, with Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Marine Le Pen questioning Macron’s approach and political strategy, the BBC has reported.

The new prime minister faces immediate challenges, including addressing France’s €3.3 trillion public debt, managing potential nationwide protests, and negotiating with other political blocs to avoid another political crisis and possible snap elections.