Sébastien Lecornu’s government has survived a no-confidence vote – but only because Emmanuel Macron shelved the pension reform that once defined his presidency. Today’s motion of censure fell short of the 289 votes needed to bring down the government, sparing Macron for now but leaving his authority weakened. What began as a crusade for fiscal responsibility has ended in capitulation, exposing the fragility of his presidency.

If the vote saved Macron in the short term, it exposed how completely he has lost control of his political base

Out of 577 members of parliament, 271 voted for censure, leaving the government 18 votes short of collapse. It was not a narrow escape but a warning: proof that Macron’s majority no longer exists in any meaningful sense. Seven Socialist MPs defied party or

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