The no-confidence motion was aimed at protesting the EU’s trade deal with the Mercosur bloc.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Le Cornu survives twice vote of no confidence in parliament, clearing the way for the government to focus on another budget showdown in the coming days.

The far-right National Rally (RN) and the far-left Movement France Indochina (LFI) have proposed a no-confidence motion aimed at protesting the EU’s trade agreement and the South American group Mercado Comun del Sur (Common Market of the South, or MERCOSUR).

EU member states last week approved the controversial deal with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay despite France’s objections.

France’s RN and LFI parties accused the government of not doing enough to stop it.

“At home you are a client government that serves the rich. Abroad you humiliate our country in front of the European Commission and the US empire,” LFI chief lawmaker Mathilde Parnot told the government in a speech in parliament ahead of Wednesday’s vote on a no-confidence motion.

Lecornu said the length of time the no-confidence vote took further delayed a heated debate on the country’s 2026 budget, an issue he said political leaders should focus on.

“At a time when we must face international interference, you are acting like an ambush sniper shooting executives in the back,” he said.

But on Wednesday, both motions failed. The proposal put forward by LFI received only 256 votes in favor, 32 votes short of the number required for the motion to pass. A second motion put forward by the far right received 142 votes in favor and also failed.

The Socialists have ruled out supporting a no-confidence motion and conservative Republicans have said they will not vote to censure the government over Mercosur.

A source in the French government told Reuters that the next step would be tough budget negotiations, with Le Cornu having the option of invoking Article 49.3 of the constitution, allowing him to pass the finance bill without a vote after negotiating the text with all groups except the RN and LFI.

While this option could also lead to more no-confidence motions, lawmakers are eager to end weeks of budget wrangling even if it means the country’s deficit remains close to 5%, the source added.

Government spokesman Maud Bregeon said on Tuesday that “nothing has been ruled out” in passing the budget.

France, the euro zone’s second-largest economy, has been under pressure to reduce its huge budget deficit. But political instability since Macron’s snap election in 2024 led to a hung parliament has slowed those efforts.

Budget disputes have brought down three governments since the 2024 election, including former Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who lost a no-confidence vote over his own budget bill.