French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters
France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party submitted a no-confidence motion on Monday (February 23, 2026) against the government following the adoption of a new energy law, which outlines long-term energy targets.
The motion is unlikely to succeed, however, with the Socialist Party — a crucial swing vote in the fragmented Assembly — indicating it will not support the effort.
France unveiled a long-delayed energy strategy this month that scaled down renewable energy goals and eased pressure on the state-run utility EDF by reversing a mandate to shut down 14 nuclear reactors.
RN leader Marine Le Pen has accused the government of bypassing Parliamentary oversight by implementing the plan through decree, saying it will drive up energy prices and push higher costs onto households and businesses.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s government, which lacks a Parliamentary majority, survived two no-confidence votes this month after pushing a delayed budget through the National Assembly.
Socialist lawmaker Jerome Guedj told France Info radio that the party had “negotiated with the government to bring stability, not to have chaos”, and did not plan to support the no-confidence motion.
Published – February 23, 2026 06:25 pm IST
