France, Jan. 28 -- France's National Assembly on Tuesday once again rejected two motions of censure aimed at bringing down Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's government, clearing the way for the 2026 state budget to be adopted at a new reading.

After a brief examination by the Senate, the bill is expected to be definitively approved early next week, bringing months of bruising parliamentary debate closer to an end.

The debate gave the Prime Minister an opportunity to defend what he described as a "breakthrough" budget, saying he was committing his responsibility "before history".

Central to the plan is a €6.5 billion increase in defence spending, alongside a broader call to look beyond the immediate horizon of 2026.

The session ...