Finance
French government survives two no-confidence votes on energy law
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 25, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 25, 2026
Tags:Public Finance
Quick Summary
France’s government survived an RN-led no-confidence vote over its energy law enacted by decree; 289 votes were needed. A second LFI motion is expected shortly as PM Sébastien Lecornu’s minority navigates ongoing censure bids.
PARIS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - The French government survived two no-confidence motions in parliament on Wednesday that were brought after it adopted a new energy law by decree earlier in February, following years of disagreement in the National Assembly over the measure.
The motion, filed by France's far-right National Rally (RN) party, was backed by 140 members of parliament; 289 votes are needed for the motion to pass. The second motion, filed by hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), was backed by 108 members of parliament.
The failed votes give Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's minority government some breathing room after several attempts to unseat it since taking office. The government survived two other no-confidence votes earlier this year after pushing a delayed budget through the National Assembly. Still, the country's politics remain unsettled, with President Emmanuel Macron facing low approval ratings as he nears the end of his second term.
France set out a long-delayed energy strategy earlier this month that scaled back its renewable energy goals and eased pressure on state-run utility Electricite de France (EDF) by reversing a mandate to shut down 14 nuclear reactors.
The law had triggered fierce debate among lawmakers pitting support for renewable subsidies against those advocating for financing new nuclear energy at a time when France is struggling with high debt.
(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, editing by Inti Ladnauro)
Key Takeaways
- •The government survived the first of two no-confidence votes tied to its energy law adopted by decree; 289 votes were required to topple it. (leclubdesjuristes.com)
- •The decree concerns the third Multiannual Energy Program (PPE3) setting 2026–2035 targets; opponents dispute using a decree instead of a law. (tf1info.fr)
- •Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu leads a fragile minority, making censure attempts a recurring risk. (bloomberg.com)
- •Similar no-confidence motions in January related to budget procedure also failed, with RN-backed tallies well below the 289 needed. (investing.com)
- •Policy continuity on energy is likely near term, but political uncertainty may weigh on investor sentiment toward France’s energy and utilities sectors.
Frequently Asked Questions about French government survives two no-confidence votes on energy law
1What is the main topic?
France’s government survived the first of two no-confidence votes linked to its energy strategy adopted by decree; a second vote filed by the left-wing LFI is expected shortly.
2Why were the motions of no-confidence filed?
Opposition parties object to the government publishing the PPE3 energy roadmap by decree rather than passing a law, and they disagree over the plan’s balance between nuclear and renewables.
3What are the implications for finance and markets?
The failed motion signals short-term policy continuity, but repeated censure attempts highlight political risk that could influence energy-sector investment and France’s broader fiscal outlook.
