French PM scores big win as social security budget clears major hurdle

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu scored a key political victory Tuesday after lawmakers approved next year’s social security budget by just 13 votes.

The bill must still be approved by the French Senate, but its passage in the more powerful National Assembly is a positive sign for the future of Lecornu’s minority government and to financial markets worried about France’s ability to rein in its spiraling budget deficit.

Lecornu will have little time to celebrate, however, as there still remains the matter of the state budget, a separate piece of legislation where compromise has proved arguably more contentious. 

Just one lawmaker in the 577-strong National Assembly backed the budget during an earlier vote on part of the state budget.

This developing story will be updated