French PM survives two votes of no confidence
The far-left motion came very close to toppling the government
The prime minister remains in place for the present
Credit: LE PICTORIUM / Alamy Stock Photo
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has avoided being ousted by two votes of no confidence today, by a margin of just 18.
A total of 271 MPs backed a no confidence motion against Mr Lecornu – brought forward by the far-left La France Insoumise – narrowly missing out on the 289 MPs required to topple the government.
The second motion brought forward by the far-right Rassemblement National also failed, receiving only 144 votes in favour.
Mr Lecornu was saved by most Socialist Party MPs toeing the party line and not backing the far-left motion.
Earlier this week, the prime minister gained the party’s agreement to not back a motion of no confidence against him – and keep the government in place to preside over debates on the 2026 budget – by agreeing to suspend the 2023 pension reform until the next presidential election.
However, seven Socialist MPs – as well as one right-wing Les Républicains MP and one centrist MP in the LIOT group – broke ranks by backing the far-left motion.
Debates on budget to take centre stage
The far-left motion was backed by members across the chamber, including from the far-right Rassemblement National.
It has been suggested that this signals the level of discontent at Mr Lecornu’s re-appointment, as usually the parties do not back any motions brought forward by each other.
Indeed, MPs from La France Insoumise refused to back the motion from the far-right.
Despite the failure of the vote, far-left MPs remained optimistic.
“We are launching a solemn appeal to the country: do not give up, do not lose courage,” said leader of the far-left group, Mathilde Panot.
If discontent arises during the ensuing debates on the 2026 budget, it is likely the party will table another motion – there is no limit to the number of times they can do so.
“I am happy to see that a majority in the Assemblée nationale is committed to this dynamic of work and compromise,” said president of the chamber Yaël Braun-Pivet following the vote.
“I am reasonably optimistic; now we all need to roll up our sleeves to make this happen,” she added, referring to the passing of the 2026 budget.
A smooth process for this is far from assured, however.
The Socialist Party has made it clear that their offer to not back today’s motions was not binding for future iterations, and will depend on how budget talks proceed.
As it stands, MPs from a deeply fractured chamber must forge a budget out of the draft plans presented by Mr Lecornu, with a majority of MPs needed to back this final version for it to come into force.
