The unprecedented political crisis in France is increasingly being felt thousands of kilometres away in the South Pacific.
On October 16, French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived two no-confidence motions – one by just 18 votes. He is expected to face further challenges in the coming months as he seeks to pass the 2026 budget.
The parliamentary votes follow weeks of upheaval. Former Prime Minister Francois Bayrou resigned in September after he lost a no confidence vote himself. His successor, Lecornu, took over three weeks to appoint a cabinet, then resigned after it fell apart within a matter of hours. Six days later, he was re-appointed.
