France's New PM Survives First Budget Vote by Razor-Thin Margin

France's new Prime Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, has passed his first major test. The National Assembly approved his government's budget plan on Tuesday. The vote was extremely close. The spending plans passed by only 13 votes. This gives the 37-year-old prime minister a crucial, but fragile, victory. Lecornu has been in office for just three months. He previously offered his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron in October. That resignation was refused. The narrow budget win shows the continuing challenge Lecornu faces. He must govern without a clear majority in parliament. His success depends on negotiating with opposition lawmakers for each new law.