French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has narrowly survived two no-confidence votes in parliament, securing temporary stability just days after taking office. The most critical motion, led by the far-left opposition, fell 18 votes short of the 289 needed to bring down his government, allowing Lecornu to remain in power and focus on advancing the 2026 national budget.
Despite this short-term reprieve, Lecornu’s government remains vulnerable. Both the far-left and far-right blocs continue to push for his removal, while the Socialist Party—whose support helped him survive the vote—has warned that its backing will not continue without meaningful concessions.
To secure Socialist support, Lecornu agreed to freeze President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial pension reform that raises the retirement age to 64. He also pledged not to invoke Article 49:3 of the French Constitution, a mechanism that allows a government to pass laws without parliamentary approval. This move hands budgetary power directly to the National Assembly, signaling a major shift away from the centralized authority of the presidency.
The prime minister now faces a divided parliament and fierce resistance to his proposed €30 billion in spending cuts aimed at reducing France’s deficit to 4.7% of GDP. Both left and far-right leaders have denounced the draft budget as harmful to low-income citizens. Political analysts warn that the ongoing instability could further erode public trust and deepen France’s political crisis, as President Macron’s approval rating plunges to historic lows.