French government survives no-confidence votes

The no-confidence motions aimed to protest the European Union’s trade agreement with the MERCOSUR bloc.Published On 14 Jan 2026French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has survived two no-confidence votes in parliament, clearing the way for the government to focus on yet another budget showdown in the coming days.The no-confidence motions, filed by the far-right National Rally (RN) and hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), aimed to protest the European Union’s trade agreement with the South American bloc Mercado Comun del Sur (Southern Common Market, or MERCOSUR).Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Everything you need to know about the Syria – Israel deal in Parislist 2 of 3Russia releases French researcher in prisoner exchangelist 3 of 3Europe should prepare for Greenland’s annexation and end of NATO: Expertsend of listDespite French opposition, European Union member states last week approved the signing of the long-debated deal with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay.France’s RN and LFI political parties accused the government of not doing enough to block it.“Inside the country, you are a government of vassals serving the rich. Outside, you are humiliating our nation before the European Commission and the US empire,” chief LFI lawmaker Mathilde Panot told the government, speaking in parliament ahead of Wednesday’s no-confidence motion votes.Lecornu said time spent on the no-confidence votes was further delaying fraught debates on the country’s 2026 budget, which he said political leaders should instead focus on.“You are acting like snipers lying in wait, firing into the executive’s back at the very moment when we must confront international disruptions,” he said.But on Wednesday, both motions failed. The one tabled by LFI received only 256 votes in favour, 32 votes short of what was needed for the motion to pass. The second motion, put forward by the far right, received 142 votes in favour and also failed.