Political Uncertainty Looms as Lecornu Faces Opposition Response
A representative from the Socialist Party is set to respond to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s speech in parliament later Tuesday afternoon. With most other opposition parties determined to challenge Lecornu’s government, this pivotal moment will reveal whether the 39-year-old PM has secured a temporary reprieve or if France will descend further into the political turmoil triggered by the collapse of his first government just 14 hours earlier, reports 24brussels.
The ongoing crisis has raised alarm over the eurozone’s second-largest economy, prompting fears that France’s governance has deteriorated to the point where it struggles to meet its financial obligations. If Lecornu’s second government is defeated, it would mark the fourth collapse in under a year, heightening the likelihood of President Emmanuel Macron dissolving parliament to resolve the impasse. Two motions of no confidence—one put forth by a coalition of far-left, Green, and left-wing lawmakers, and another by the far-right—are scheduled for a vote on Thursday.
During his address, Lecornu asserted that any suspension of financial commitments would necessitate corresponding budgetary savings to curb excessive public spending and mitigate a budget deficit projected to reach 5.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) this year. He estimated that the proposed freeze would impose a cost of €400 million on French state finances for 2026.
Earlier on Tuesday, his government unveiled a budget aimed at reducing the deficit below 5 percent of GDP for the upcoming year, featuring €31 billion in spending cuts and tax increases. The prime minister emphasized that he would oppose any measures that might jeopardize France’s fiscal credibility or impair its pension system.
This developing story is being updated.
