France's new government endures 2 confidence votes
Photo: Sébastien Lecornu (Getty Images)
The new French government, led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, managed to hold its ground. Neither of the two no-confidence motions passed in the parliamentary vote on October 16, BFMTV reports.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, recently reappointed to his post, successfully survived two consecutive votes of no confidence in the National Assembly on October 16.
Despite attempts by the opposition to remove the government, Lecornu's cabinet retained its powers. The first initiative of the left-wing parties was supported by 271 deputies, but it fell 18 votes short of passing.
The second attempt, organized by the far-right National Rally led by Marine Le Pen, received only 144 votes.
According to media reports, the main challenge for Lecornu's government will now be to pass the state budget amid deep political divisions in parliament.
Background
On October 6, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned after a wave of criticism from the opposition. He had been in office for less than a month since his appointment on September 9.
President Emmanuel Macron accepted his resignation, but on October 10, after several days of consultations, he reappointed Lecornu as head of government.
On October 11, the reappointed prime minister explained that his main task was to pass France's 2026 state budget, adding that he was not clinging to his position and did not want to be a problem.
Macron later warned that if Lecornu's government was voted out of office, he would not look for a new prime minister but would dissolve parliament.
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