Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu narrowly escaped two no-confidence motions on October 16, falling 18 votes short of defeat. Socialists largely abstained, enabling temporary stability. Budget debates are set to begin on October 24.
Visibly relieved, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu declared 'au travail!'—or 'to work!'—as he left the National Assembly on foot to head to Matignon on October 16. Moments earlier, he had overcome his first major test at the Palais-Bourbon by surviving no-confidence motions tabled by the La France Insoumise (LFI) and Rassemblement National (RN) groups, immediately following his appointment and ahead of his general policy statement.
This outcome provides Parliament with at least a few weeks of apparent stability after a technical standstill since mid-July. Budget debates in public session will start on Friday, October 24, within an already tight timeline for adoption.
'It shows that among deputies there is a willingness to find a path for the country rather than returning to crisis,' rejoiced Ludovic Mendes, Renaissance deputy from Moselle. Upon exiting the chamber, National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet (Renaissance), who had spoken with Lecornu before the results, welcomed the fact that the country now has 'a governmental stability that can take hold.'
Despite this respite, oppositions vow a tough showdown with the prime minister in upcoming debates.