Day: 11 September 2025

French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, a day after François Bayrou was forced to resign following a historic defeat in a parliamentary confidence vote.

On Tuesday 9th September, President Emmanuel Macron asked Sébastien Lecornu to form a government, just 24 hours after François Bayrou was ousted from office. At 39, Lecornu becomes the seventh prime minister since Macron took office in 2017 and the fifth in just three years. He will formally succeed Bayrou at a handover ceremony in Paris on Wednesday.

Macron loyalist

Lecornu, a former member of the conservative Les Républicains, has served in every Macron-led government since 2017 and was appointed France’s youngest-ever defence minister in 2022. He was the architect of a major military build-up through 2030 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and previously oversaw overseas territories and local authorities. In 2019, he was tasked with organising the president’s “great national debate” during the Yellow Vests crisis.

Political reactions divided

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen dismissed the appointment as “the last shot of Macronism,” predicting that “inevitable future elections” would see her lieutenant Jordan Bardella become prime minister. Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon said Macron had “changed nothing” in response to Bayrou’s fall, while the Greens called the nomination a “provocation.” The Socialist Party warned the choice risked “social anger and institutional deadlock” and ruled out participation in Lecornu’s government.

France under pressure

Bayrou’s downfall followed his decision to call a high-risk confidence vote on his austerity budget, which included €44 billion in savings. The government was rejected by 364 votes to 194, prompting his resignation. The political upheaval comes amid rising borrowing costs for France and mounting social unrest.

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Photo credit: Ecole polytechnique / Institut Polytechnique de Paris / J.Barande

The Monaco Yacht Show has unveiled the nominees for the first edition of the Blue Wake Awards, a pioneering initiative created in partnership with the Water Revolution Foundation to celebrate the most credible and impactful environmental innovations in the superyacht sector.

The shortlist highlights leaders across four categories. In Luxury Products and Services, Foglizzo Leather, Tai Ping and Turnstyle Design have been recognised. The Nautical Supplier category features AkzoNobel, Deasyl and Termodinamica. Competing in the Refit or Builder Shipyard category are Amico & Co, Baltic Yachts and Sanlorenzo. Finally, in Tenders and Water Toys, nominees include Evene Tenders, U-Boat Worx and Tykun. A fifth distinction, the Special Jury Award, will honour a yacht demonstrating outstanding commitment to sustainability.

All candidates were selected through a rigorous independent assessment led by the Water Revolution Foundation, based on transparent evaluation criteria jointly developed with the Monaco Yacht Show. This process ensures that only credible, high-impact solutions are recognised.

The winners will be revealed on Tuesday 23rd September during the Grand Opening Night of the Monaco Yacht Show, marking a milestone in the event’s mission to make sustainability a driver of innovation and excellence in yachting.

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Photo source: Monaco Yacht Show

Monte Carlo Beer, a brand born in the Principality, has entered the British market through an exclusive partnership with Molson Coors Beverage Company.

Founded in 2019 by Monégasque entrepreneurs William Scheffer and Anthony Orengo, Monte Carlo Beer has established itself along the French Riviera with a growing range including Blonde Ale, Amber Ale and IPA. The brand will now make its first move into the UK with the launch of a new 4.8% ABV super-premium lager, created specifically for British consumers. The beer, brewed in the UK, became available on draught in select venues on 28th July, followed by a bottled format in September.

Co-founders hail “full-circle moment”

Co-founder William Scheffer said the UK launch fulfilled an early ambition for the business. “We founded Monte Carlo Beer to not only celebrate our Monégasque heritage but to also celebrate memorable moments with friends. When we created the beer originally, we had hoped that one day the Monte Carlo Beer brand would expand internationally, so this is a full-circle moment for us.”

His business partner Anthony Orengo pointed to Molson Coors’ experience with European brands such as Rekorderlig, Madrí Excepcional and Staropramen as a key reason behind the collaboration. “Working with them to create this special addition to the portfolio was an opportunity we simply couldn’t pass up,” he said.

Industry backdrop

The partnership comes as demand for premium beers continues to grow in the UK. According to Molson Coors, the on-trade world beer market is up 7% in value. Hannah Norbury, Marketing Director for Molson Coors in the UK and Ireland, described Monte Carlo Beer as “a super-premium, refreshing golden lager that will add real excitement on the bar”.

She added that the collaboration highlighted the company’s approach to innovation: “Partnering with passionate entrepreneurs like Will and Anto is a real privilege – creating something together for UK drinkers is testament to the fact that two heads are truly better than one.”

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Photos provided