French Parliament Reviews Motions of Censure Over Controversial EU-Mercosur Trade Deal

On January 14, 2026, the French National Assembly examined two motions of censure filed by La France insoumise (LFI) and the Rassemblement national (RN) in response to the European Union’s pending free trade agreement with Mercosur. These motions criticized the government's handling of the treaty and its impact, particularly concerning agricultural sectors, which have seen ongoing protests in regions such as Toulouse.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu had recently announced measures to address the agricultural unrest, underscoring the government's awareness of farmers' discontent. Despite these efforts and widespread political opposition to the agreement, neither the Socialist Party (PS) nor Les Républicains (LR) supported the censure motions, making their adoption unlikely.

PS leader Olivier Faure called it “absurd” to censure the government since President Emmanuel Macron himself opposes the treaty. Similarly, LR’s Bruno Retailleau emphasized that the decision now rests with the European Parliament. The government issued strong warnings about possible dissolution and early legislative elections should the motions pass.

LFI accused President Macron of capitulating to the European Commission, despite his public opposition, criticizing a perceived lack of firm resistance. The RN criticized the government for not employing all negotiation tools to block what they consider a disadvantageous agreement for France, a key EU contributor.

Backing LFI’s motion, the Democratic and Republican Left group expressed support for farmers and condemned the government’s approach. Environmentalist factions have also entered the debate, calling for legal action against the treaty. Still, the cohesive political resistance failed to translate into parliamentary backing for censure.

The motions represent a significant expression of dissent within French politics over trade policy and agricultural concerns but remain politically fragile in the face of broader parliamentary consensus and government resolve.