France’s government narrowly survived a no-confidence vote in Parliament on Thursday, offering the nation a brief moment of calm after weeks of intense political turmoil. However, another fierce battle over the national budget is just around the corner.
The no-confidence motion, introduced by the far-left France Unbowed party, garnered the support of 271 lawmakers in the 577-seat lower house. This fell short of the 289 votes needed for an absolute majority to bring down Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his cabinet.
Mr. Lecornu’s victory provided a much-needed breather for France, which has been grappling with political instability. This unrest had cast deep shadows of uncertainty over the country’s future and even affected its economy. If the motion had passed, it would have marked the government’s second collapse in under two weeks.
Despite the high stakes, Thursday’s outcome was largely anticipated. This came after Mr. Lecornu’s recent offer to postpone an unpopular pension reform that aimed to raise the retirement age. This significant concession was critical in securing the support of the moderate left-wing Socialist Party, whose votes were essential to defeat the no-confidence motions.
Mr. Lecornu, a centrist and a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, leads France’s fourth government in less than a year. He previously resigned just weeks into his term, only to be reappointed days later. This unusual move angered many opponents who had hoped President Macron would call for snap legislative elections or even step down himself.
President Macron has emphatically stated he will not resign, but he had threatened to call new elections if Mr. Lecornu’s government fell. Thursday’s survival has, for now, prevented that scenario.
However, this reprieve might not last long. Mr. Lecornu now faces the daunting task of passing a new budget through a notoriously difficult lower house. The National Assembly is currently composed of deeply divided left-wing parties, a fragile centrist coalition, a weakened conservative party, and a powerful far-right bloc, all of whom find common ground on very few issues. More no-confidence votes are expected in the weeks and months ahead.
With no clear working majority in the National Assembly, France has been led by a series of unstable, center-right minority governments over the past year, all appointed by an increasingly unpopular President Macron.