French government survives first no-confidence vote under Lecornu
France's reappointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has survived his first no-confidence vote, with 271 deputies supporting the motion - short of the 289 needed to topple the government. The vote came after Lecornu pledged to suspend controversial pension reforms until 2028, a key concession to opposition parties.
The French government under reappointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has overcome its first parliamentary challenge, surviving a no-confidence vote that fell short of the required majority. The motion, initiated by the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, received 271 votes in favor with only 18 against, failing to reach the 289 votes needed to bring down the administration.
Vote Outcome and Political Maneuvering
The National Assembly's rejection of the no-confidence motion provides temporary stability for Lecornu's government amid ongoing political turbulence. A second motion proposed by the far-right National Rally is proceeding toward a vote but is also anticipated to fail. The center-left Socialist Party has indicated it will not support censure motions "as long as Parliament is respected," following Lecornu's significant concession on pension reforms.
Pension Reform Compromise
The government's survival strategy included Lecornu's announcement that he would suspend implementation of the controversial pension reforms until the next presidential election. The proposed legislation, scheduled for introduction this fall, would freeze the reforms until January 2028. The original measures, pushed through in 2023 under then-Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, sought to gradually raise France's retirement age from 62 to 64, triggering some of the most prolonged strikes in decades.
Context of Political Instability
France has experienced significant government instability marked by repeated cabinet collapses and budgetary standoffs. Prime Minister Michel Barnier's center-right government fell last December after losing a confidence vote over the 2025 budget. His successor, Francois Bayrou, faced similar challenges when his controversial 2026 draft budget failed to win parliamentary approval. Bayrou's government collapsed this September, leading to Lecornu's initial appointment on September 9, though he stepped down on October 6 before being reappointed four days later.
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