French Budget Drama Eases as No-Confidence Votes Fail (2)

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived two no-confidence votes over the 2026 budget on Friday, bringing the country closer to ending a period of political and financial upheaval.

The far left’s motion at the National Assembly got the backing of only 269 lawmakers, falling short of the 288 required to topple the government and reject the finance bill. Only 142 voted in favor of a separate proposal from the far right.

The results indicate Lecornu’s concessions on tax and spending — notably to the center-left Socialists — have likely secured him enough support to survive subsequent no-confidence ballots over his ...