PARIS — The French cabinet reviewed the government's response to last month's deadly heatwave on Saturday as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu sought to address mounting political pressure from opposition parties that have accused his administration of failing to prepare adequately for extreme temperatures.
The review came after a series of interministerial crisis meetings and as authorities maintained France's highest-level ORSAN health emergency response plan because forecasters warned that another spell of intense heat could develop in the coming days.
Lecornu told ministers the government would continue assessing lessons from the late-June heatwave while ensuring hospitals, emergency services and local authorities remained prepared for renewed high temperatures, according to government statements.
The cabinet discussion followed criticism from Green lawmakers and other opposition figures, who argued the government's emergency response and broader climate adaptation policies had left the country insufficiently prepared for the heatwave's impact. Green legislators have filed a no-confidence motion against the minority government over its handling of the crisis, although the measure is widely expected to fall short without broader opposition backing.
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon dismissed the motion as a political maneuver, saying the government was focused on managing the crisis while opposition parties sought political advantage.
French authorities have said preliminary public health data showed around 1,000 excess deaths above the seasonal average during the heatwave, while cautioning that the figures do not establish heat as the direct cause in every case and remain subject to further analysis. Public health officials have continued evaluating the overall impact of the prolonged period of extreme temperatures.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has defended the government's response, pointing to emergency measures including activation of national response plans, coordination with regional prefects and additional support for hospitals and vulnerable residents. President Emmanuel Macron has also defended his administration's record on climate adaptation while acknowledging that further work is needed to strengthen France's resilience to increasingly frequent extreme weather.
The political debate has intensified as scientists and health experts warn that climate change is increasing the likelihood and severity of heatwaves across Europe, prompting renewed scrutiny of governments' preparedness and long-term adaptation strategies.
The government said it would continue monitoring weather forecasts and maintain crisis coordination measures while preparing for any further periods of extreme heat expected during the summer.
