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Lecornu survives no-confidence votes as pension reform put on hold
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived two no-confidence votes in parliament on Thursday, securing critical support from the Socialist Party after agreeing to suspend President Emmanuel Macron’s contentious pension reform until after the 2027 presidential election.
The motions, brought forward by the far-left France Unbowed and the far-right National Rally (RN), received 271 and 144 votes respectively, falling short of the 289 needed to bring down Lecornu’s recently formed government. The outcome provides temporary stability for Macron’s administration, though it underscores deep divisions within the National Assembly.
Lecornu’s decision to pause the pension reform, a central element of Macron’s economic agenda, proved decisive in gaining Socialist backing. However, shelving the reform risks undermining one of Macron’s key economic legacies as France faces rising public debt and slow growth.
RN leader Jordan Bardella criticized the result, stating on X that “a majority cobbled together through horse-trading managed today to save their positions, at the expense of the national interest.” Despite political uncertainty, French bond markets remained steady, as investors had largely anticipated Lecornu’s survival.
A fragile victory amid budget negotiations
Looking ahead, Lecornu faces challenging negotiations over the 2026 budget, where his narrow majority may again be tested. He must balance deficit reduction with concessions to rival factions to secure parliamentary approval.
“The French need to know that we are doing all this work to give them a budget, because it is fundamental for the future of our country,” said National Assembly president Yael Braun-Pivet, a Macron ally. “I am pleased to see that today there is a majority operating in the spirit of compromise.”
Following the suspension of the pension reform, the Socialist Party is advocating for a tax on billionaires in the 2026 budget, reflecting the influence smaller parties hold over Lecornu’s weakened coalition.
The proposed pension reform, which would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 by 2030, has long been a contentious issue. While it aligns France with other EU countries, it diminishes a social protection measure that many consider fundamental to the French welfare system. Reforming pensions has been a recurring challenge for French leaders since 1982, when Socialist President François Mitterrand lowered the retirement age from 65 to 60. Currently, France’s average effective retirement age is 60.7, below the OECD average of 64.4.
With Macron midway through his final term, the ongoing disputes over pensions and the budget highlight the fragile state of governance in a deeply divided legislature. Lecornu’s survival provides temporary steadiness, but the upcoming budget vote will test whether his coalition can endure one of France’s most turbulent political periods in decades.
