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10h ago

Lecornu Survives Twin No-Confidence Votes After Freezing Pension Reform

The reprieve sets up a bruising fight over a €30 billion savings plan under EU and market scrutiny.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu reacts during the questions and answers to the government session, Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025 at the National Assembly in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu leaves after delivering a speech during a debate before votes on two no-confidence motions against the French government tabled by members of parliament of La France Insoumise (France Unbowed - LFI) and the Rassemblement National (National Rally - RN), two days after the French Prime Minister's general policy speech, during a public session at the National Assembly in Paris, France, October 16, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu answers lawmakers after his policy speech at the National Assembly, Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu leaves after delivering a speech during a debate before votes on two no-confidence motions against the French government tabled by members of parliament of La France Insoumise (France Unbowed - LFI) and the Rassemblement National (National Rally - RN), two days after the French Prime Minister's general policy speech, during a public session at the National Assembly in Paris, France, October 16, 2025. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Overview

  • Motions from the hard-left France Unbowed and the far-right National Rally fell short after the Socialists declined to support them, keeping the reappointed prime minister in office.
  • Lecornu said he will propose in November suspending the 2023 law that raised the retirement age to 64 until after the 2027 election, a concession that secured Socialist abstention.
  • Government estimates and market analyses put the suspension’s cost at a few hundred million euros in 2026 and about €1.8 billion by 2027, requiring offsetting savings.
  • The minority government now turns to a 2026 budget targeting roughly €30 billion in savings as France contends with debt near 114% of GDP and a deficit above EU limits, with Socialists pushing for a billionaire tax.
  • The government’s survival remains fragile as further censure efforts are likely and Macron has signaled he could dissolve the National Assembly if it falls, while the National Rally seeks new elections.