Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government secured a narrow victory in the National Assembly, surviving two no-confidence motions amid growing political tension in France.

The French government, led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, survived two no-confidence motions in the National Assembly on Wednesday, maintaining its grip on power during an increasingly tense political climate.

The motions were introduced separately by the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) and the far-right National Rally (RN) parties in protest of the government’s controversial pension reform, which aims to raise the legal retirement age from 62 to 64.

To secure support, Lecornu announced that the reform would be suspended until the next presidential election, a decision interpreted as a strategic concession to the Socialist Party, whose votes were seen as crucial to the government’s survival.

The first motion, submitted by LFI, received 271 votes, falling 18 short of the 289 required to bring down the government. The second, proposed by RN, gained 144 votes and was also rejected, according to official Assembly results.

Following the vote, opposition parties condemned what they called a “political maneuver” to remain in power at all costs. LFI and RN denounced the government’s actions, while the Socialists welcomed the suspension of the reform but emphasized their demands for new fiscal measures, including a “tax on the very rich” in the upcoming 2026 budget discussions.

The survival of Lecornu’s government comes after a period of political instability in France. François Bayrou was removed from office last month after losing a confidence vote, and Michel Barnier resigned in December 2024 under similar circumstances.

Lecornu, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron on September 9, 2025, following Bayrou’s ousting, resigned less than a month later on October 6, before being reappointed on October 10. The latest votes, held around midday and finalized at 13:59 local time, mark another test for Macron’s centrist leadership ahead of contentious budget negotiations and renewed public protests over pension reforms. (ILKHA)