Greens announce no-confidence motion over heatwave – Lecornu rejects accusations

Paris – 01.07.2026: The deputies of the Écologistes in the National Assembly announced on June 30, 2026 that they will file a Motion de censure against the government. The trigger is the recent heatwave, whose health and social consequences, in the Greens’ view, were exacerbated by insufficient preparation by the executive. Faction leader Cyrielle Chatelain spoke in the chamber of “Impräparation” and demanded a systematic review of the crisis response.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu rejected the allegations. In the debate he emphasized that the government had activated existing heat protection plans, coordinated measures with prefectures and health authorities, and transmitted recommendations for action to employers. At the same time Lecornu warned against hasty conclusions and called circulating figures on alleged heat-related deaths inaccurate. The opposing side counters that warning chains and precautionary plans did not sufficiently reach particularly vulnerable groups – for example older people, homeless people or outdoor workers.

The parliamentary path is difficult: a Motion de censure must be supported by at least one tenth of deputies and then adopted by an absolute majority to topple the government. The Greens have only a small parliamentary group and depend on signatures from other opposition camps. Representatives of the Écologistes are therefore seeking co-signatories, and several groups are consulting in parallel about the next steps. Even if majorities are lacking, an introduced motion typically increases public pressure and forces the cabinet to defend its record.

In the background are early mortality signals from Santé publique France since June 23 and reports of increased emergency admissions during extreme heat. Health authorities had issued preventive advice on fluid intake, outdoor working hours and protection in care facilities. The government additionally announced the procurement of extra cooling devices for hospitals and care homes. Critics, however, complain that structural adaptations – such as building cooling for public buildings, heat-resilient urban planning or binding plans for businesses – are progressing too slowly.

The political confrontation reflects a broader conflict over how to embed climate risks in administrative practice. Opposition deputies are calling for an independent investigation into responsibilities and lessons for future heat periods. Whether the Écologistes will receive sufficient support for a formal submission is likely to be decided in the parliamentary groups in the coming days. One thing is already clear: dealing with extreme heat remains a test of the executive’s capacity to act and of the priorities of the parliament.