French government survives no-confidence votes over budget

The French government survived two votes of no-confidence in parliament on Friday over its decision to ram through the income part of the 2026 budget without giving the National Assembly the final say.

A total of 269 lawmakers voted in favour of the no-confidence motion presented by the hard-left France Unbowed together with the Greens and Communists, whereas 288 votes were required to bring down the government. Even fewer backed a second no-confidence motion, brought by the far right.