French PM Lecornu Beats Back No-Confidence Votes, but Relief is Short-Lived

French PM Lecornu Survives Confidence Votes but Breathing Space Will Not Last Long In a closely contested vote, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has managed to survive two no-confidence motions tabled by the opposition. The motions, sponsored by the far left and far right, fell short of the 289 votes needed to bring him down. The first motion, sponsored by the far left, garnered 271 votes, while the second, backed by the far right, received 278 votes. Lecornu's government had been facing a tough test after weeks of turmoil following his reappointment as prime minister last week. Lecornu's victory in the no-confidence motions has provided him with temporary breathing space to focus on passing the 2026 budget. However, opposition leaders have made it clear that they will not give up their efforts to bring down the government. "We are not going to let them get away with this," said Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally party. "We will continue to fight against this government and its policies." The Socialists, who initially threw a lifeline to Lecornu by sponsoring one of the no-confidence motions, have also made it clear that they will not be so indulgent next time round. "We are not going to support this government indefinitely," said Olivier Véran, leader of the Socialist party. "We need to see real progress on key issues like pension reform and economic growth." Lecornu's appointment as prime minister has been marked by controversy from the start. He resigned last week after a tumultuous five-day tenure, only to be reappointed in chaotic scenes on Friday. The opposition has criticized Lecornu's government for its handling of key policy issues, including pension reform and economic growth. The far left has also accused the government of being too close to big business and not doing enough to address social inequality. Despite his survival in the no-confidence motions, Lecornu faces an uphill battle to win over opposition lawmakers and pass key legislation. His government's reputation has been damaged by weeks of confusion and capitulation, and he will need to work hard to restore confidence in his leadership. The next few weeks will be crucial for Lecornu as he tries to navigate the treacherous waters of French politics. With the far left and far right still gunning to bring him down, it remains to be seen how long his breathing space will last. *Reporting by Bbc.*