France's new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has bought himself breathing space after winning two no-confidence motions tabled by the opposition.
In the tightest vote, a motion sponsored by the far left fell 18 votes short of the 289 needed to bring him down. This means that after just five days in office, Lecornu has survived his first major ordeal in parliament and can now focus on the task of passing the 2026 budget.
However, any relief for the prime minister is likely to be short-lived, with the far left and far right still gunning to bring him down. The Socialists, who threw a lifeline in the no-confidence motions, have made clear they will not be so indulgent next time round.
Despite narrowly avoiding a governmental crisis, the challenges for Lecornu remain significant. Appointed by President Emmanuel Macron just four weeks ago, the recent political turmoil saw Lecornu resign on Monday only to be reappointed on Friday. He has survived through major concessions to the left, most notably by freezing Macron's key pension reform, which proposed raising the retirement age to 64.
In a significant policy shift, Lecornu has also pledged not to use the constitutional device known as the 49:3, which allows governments to push laws through without a vote. This concession has handed ultimate control over the budget back to parliament, reflecting a notable decline in presidential authority since Macron's tumultuous parliamentary dissolution in July 2024. Observers suggest this may signal a return to party-focused politics reminiscent of earlier French political history.
As Lecornu prepares the draft budget aiming to cut the deficit to 4.7% of GDP with intended savings of €30bn, he faces backlash from both the far-right and the left, with accusations of betrayal aimed at his administration. As French politics grapples with disillusionment and fierce opposition, the recent developments pose a complex challenge for Lecornu as he seeks to stabilize his government.
