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.
It 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. And 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.
