France, Sept. 11 -- Sebastien Lecornu on Wednesday became France's fifth prime minister in less than two years. The former defence minister is seen as a consummate strategist and close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, who is hoping Lecornu can forge some much needed consensus in a fractured parliament.

Lecornu has been a constant, if discreet, presence in the French government since Macron came to power in 2017.

He joined the president's first cabinet as a secretary of state in the ministry of ecology, before being promoted to minister - initially in charge oflocal authorities (2018-2020), then of overseas territories (2020-2022), and for the past three years, of France's defence.

Few other figures have survived as long, a testament ...