France Closes In on Budget as Premier Survives Censure Votes

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived renewed attempts to oust him over his plans for France’s public finances, bringing the country a step closer to securing a 2026 budget.

A censure motion from far-left lawmakers in the National Assembly won 267 votes, falling short of the 289 required to reject the spending chapter of the finance bill and force the premier to resign. A separate proposal from the far right also failed with just 140 votes.