French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived the first of two no-confidence votes in parliament on Thursday (October 16) after winning crucial backing from the Socialist Party thanks to his pledge to suspend President Emmanuel Macron’s contested pension reform.

The motion presented by the hard-left France Unbowed party secured 271 votes, short of the 289 votes needed to bring down Lecornu’s week-old government.

A second vote, tabled by the far-right National Rally, is expected within the hour and also looks certain to be defeated.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 16, 2025) (FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY - Access all)

1. (MUTE) LAWMAKERS ENTERING CHAMBER TO HEAR RESULT OF FIRST MOTION OF NO CONFIDENCE IN FRENCH GOVERNMENT

2. (SOUNDBITE) (French) PRESIDENT OF FRENCH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, YAEL BRAUN-PIVET, SAYING (PART OVERLAID BY GRAPHIC SHOWING RESULTS):

"So dear colleagues, the session has resumed. Here is the result of the vote. The majority required for the adoption of the motion of no confidence is the absolute majority of members, 289. For the adoption, 271. The required majority not having been reached, the motion of no confidence is not adopted. I will now open the vote for the motion proposed by Marine Le Pen (of National Rally), Eric Ciotti (of Union of the Right for the Republic) and 56 members of the Assembly."

3. LAWMAKERS LEAVING CHAMBER