Fresh from his prominent role alongside President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte during the Bastille Day parade on the Champs-Élysées, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is preparing to make diplomatic history. On Wednesday, July 15, the 40-year-old leader will embark on his first official international visit since assuming office. His destination: Rabat, Morocco, where he will co-chair the fifteenth edition of the Franco-Moroccan Intergovernmental Seminar, also known as the High-Level Meeting (RHN), at the invitation of Morocco’s head of government.

This significant diplomatic engagement will see Lecornu accompanied by a dozen ministers, including Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Laurent Nuñez, Minister of the Interior. The visit comes at a pivotal moment in Franco-Moroccan relations, as this high-level meeting has not convened since 2019—a period marked by a notable diplomatic rift between the two nations. Since then, relations have significantly improved, culminating in President Macron’s historic state visit to Rabat in October 2024, shortly after France’s recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara territory.

Prime Minister Lecornu issues summer work guidelines to his cabinet

While July keeps the government particularly busy, August typically offers ministers a chance to unwind closer to home. However, this year, Prime Minister Lecornu has issued a clear directive to his team: « Take your rest, but avoid extended absences ». According to reports, the Prime Minister is not a strong advocate for prolonged breaks. He himself plans to split his August between Paris and Vernon in the Eure department, blending leisure with « essential vacation duties ». An August marked by productivity.