FRENCH GOVERNMENT FACES ANOTHER NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE

PARIS, Feb 2 (Bernama-dpa) - French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's minority government faces two no-confidence votes on Monday after he pushed the budget through the National Assembly without a final vote, German Press Agency (dpa) reported. 

Members of the National Assembly are expected to start a debate late on Monday afternoon on whether to withdraw their confidence from the centre-left Cabinet. A fall of the government is not expected.

Lecornu has secured the support of the Socialists with concessions in the budget. 

If the government survives the no-confidence votes in parliament, the 2026 budget is considered approved. 

The no-confidence votes were requested by Marine Le Pen's right-wing nationalists on one hand, and the leftists, Greens, and Communists on the other. 

Their attempt to topple the government is a reaction to Lecornu pushing the budget for this year through the parliamentary chamber using a special article of the constitution without a final vote, after a fruitless search for a compromise. 

Lecornu and his government have already survived four no-confidence votes in recent weeks, which related to parts of the budget.

The fact that highly indebted France is finally getting a budget after a deadlock is likely to be welcomed by businesses and EU partner countries like Germany. This provides companies with clarity for investments and hiring staff, and the public sector can also invest again. 

The prospect of France addressing its debt issues is also a positive signal to the European Union.

-- BERNAMA-dpa