If you’re looking at the headlines this morning, the answer seems simple. Emmanuel Macron is the President of France. He’s been in the Élysée Palace since 2017. But honestly? If you just stop at his name, you’re missing the actual drama of how France is being run right now in January 2026.
France doesn't just have one "leader." It’s a bit of a two-headed beast. You have the President, sure, but then there's the Prime Minister, and right now, that relationship is kinda messy.
The Man at the Top: Emmanuel Macron
Macron is currently in the home stretch. He is serving his second five-year term, which is scheduled to end in May 2027. Under the French Constitution, he can't run again. He's a "lame duck," but he’s not acting like one. Just recently, on January 15, 2026, he was down at the Istres military air base giving a pretty fiery speech to the armed forces. He’s been pushing hard on "strategic autonomy"—basically telling Europe they need to stop leaning so hard on the U.S. and start buying their own weapons.
But here is the catch. While Macron handles the big "regal" stuff—foreign policy, the nuclear deterrent, and the general vision for the country—he doesn't actually manage the day-to-day government. That’s the job of the Prime Minister.
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Who is the Prime Minister right now?
As of today, the Prime Minister is Sébastien Lecornu.
If that name doesn't ring a bell, don't feel bad. He’s the fourth person to hold the job in barely a year. Macron appointed him in September 2025 because the previous government basically imploded over budget fights. Lecornu was the Defense Minister before this, and he’s a total Macron loyalist.
But it’s been a rocky road. Get this: Lecornu actually resigned in early October 2025 after only a month on the job because the political infighting was so bad. Then, just days later, Macron reappointed him. It was a "keep calm and carry on" move that left a lot of people in Paris scratching their heads.
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How the Power Actually Works (The Split)
In the United States, the President is both the head of state and the head of government. In France, they split the bill.
- The President (Macron): Think of him as the "Grand Architect." He represents France on the world stage, meets with NATO leaders, and decides if the country goes to war. He’s the one who recently met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to talk about Ukraine.
- The Prime Minister (Lecornu): He’s the "Site Manager." He has to actually get laws through the National Assembly. And right now, the National Assembly is a mess. Nobody has a clear majority.
This means Lecornu is constantly dodging no-confidence motions. In fact, just a week ago, both the far-right and the hard-left tried to kick him out again. They failed, but it shows how fragile the "leadership" really is.
Why 2026 is a Critical Year for French Leadership
We are currently in a bit of a "phony war" period. Everyone is looking toward the 2027 election. Because Macron can't run, the people around him are already starting to elbow each other for position.
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The Challenges on the Desk
- The Budget: This is the big one. France has a lot of debt, and the EU is breathing down their neck to cut spending. Lecornu is trying to pass a 2026 budget without getting fired by a hostile parliament.
- Military Spending: France is in the middle of a massive €413 billion military upgrade. Lecornu was the architect of this when he was Defense Minister, so he's personally tied to making sure the money actually gets spent on new tech and nuclear modernization.
- Foreign Influence: Just this week (January 15), a new "Transparency of Foreign Influence" register opened up. It’s a big deal. Anyone trying to lobby the French government on behalf of a foreign power now has to go on the record or face three years in jail. It’s part of a broader push by Macron to protect French sovereignty.
What Most People Miss About the "Leader"
People often ask, "Is Macron still in charge?" The answer is: Diplomatically, yes. Domestically, barely. When Macron travels to summits, he looks like the undisputed leader of a European powerhouse. But back in Paris, his government is fighting for its life every Tuesday in the National Assembly. It’s a weird duality. He has the power to dissolve parliament and call for new elections, but he already did that in 2024, and it backfired spectacularly, leaving him with the hung parliament he has today.
The Next Steps for France
If you’re watching French politics, don’t just watch Macron. Watch the municipal elections coming up in March 2026. These local elections are usually a "temperature check" for the country. If Macron’s party, Renaissance, gets wiped out in the cities, Lecornu might not survive the spring as Prime Minister.
What you should do next:
If you're tracking French policy for business or travel, pay close attention to the AI Impact Summit happening in February 2026. It’s Macron’s big project to position France as a global tech leader. Also, keep an eye on the Health Financing Summit in Lyon this April. These are the venues where Macron will try to project his leadership despite the political chaos at home.
Basically, the "leader" of France is a duo: a President trying to secure a legacy and a Prime Minister trying to keep the lights on. It’s a high-wire act, and 2026 is the year we see if they fall.
Actionable Insights:
- Monitor the National Assembly: Watch for no-confidence votes against Lecornu; if he falls, it signals a deeper constitutional crisis.
- Track the 2026 Budget: The finalization of the spending bills in the coming weeks will determine if France can meet its NATO and EU obligations.
- Follow the 2027 Candidates: Names like Édouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal are already distancing themselves from the current leadership to prep for their own runs.