French Prime Minister Survives Confidence Votes Amid Pension Reform Controversy

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 a first major ordeal in parliament and can now focus on the task of passing the 2026 budget.

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.

Also, any tactical victory enabling the government to endure for now is more than offset by the huge damage to France's reputation caused by weeks of confusion and capitulation.

Appointed by President Emmanuel Macron four weeks ago, then re-appointed in chaotic scenes on Friday after he resigned on Monday, Lecornu only survives thanks to major concessions made to the left. To buy the support of the Socialist Party, which has 65 or so MPs, the prime minister promised to freeze Macron's most important economic reform of his second term – the raising of the retirement age to 64.

But he also made another, possibly more important, gift to the opposition, which has big implications for the chances of obtaining a budget in time for the end-of-year deadline.

By pledging not to resort to the constitutional device known as the 49:3 – which lets governments force through laws without a vote – Lecornu handed ultimate control over the budget to the parties in parliament. This reflects the decline of presidential authority since Macron's botched parliamentary dissolution of July 2024, heralding a return to party politicking that was a hallmark of the pre-1958 Fourth Republic.

The draft budget tabled by Lecornu on Tuesday aims to reduce the deficit to 4.7% of GDP by making savings of €30bn, with a squeeze on spending in the health sector and local administration. However, the Socialists and other opposition members have denounced the budget as a betrayal of the less privileged.

President Macron, who is blamed for the current political crisis, has seen his popularity ratings plummet to just 14%. With just 18 months left in his term, calls for his resignation are intensifying amidst growing public disillusionment with the political climate in France.