PARIS, France – French Prime Minister François Bayrou and his government have narrowly survived a high-stakes no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, overcoming a major political challenge that threatened to plunge the country into instability.
The vote, called by a coalition of opposition parties, took place late on Saturday following a heated debate over the government's controversial economic reform package. The motion sought to topple Bayrou's government, but ultimately failed to secure the absolute majority of 289 votes required for it to pass.
The final tally showed that 278 deputies voted in favor of the no-confidence motion, falling just 11 votes short of the threshold needed to force the government's resignation. The result brings a sigh of relief to the administration of President Emmanuel Macron, for whom Bayrou serves as a key ally.
In a speech to the chamber immediately following the result, Prime Minister Bayrou struck a determined tone. "This vote, while a test, confirms that our government has the legitimacy to move forward," he stated. "It is time to end the political maneuvering and focus on the work that must be done for the French people. We will continue to pursue the necessary reforms to strengthen our country."
The government, a centrist coalition, does not hold an absolute majority in the lower house of parliament, making it perpetually vulnerable to such challenges from a unified opposition. The recent push for fiscal reforms, including budget cuts and changes to social security, provided the catalyst for the left-wing and right-wing opposition parties to join forces in an attempt to unseat the Prime Minister.
While the government has survived, the narrow margin of victory underscores the fragile political tightrope it must walk. Opposition leaders have framed the result as a sign of the government's weakness, vowing to continue their resistance to its agenda.
"The Prime Minister may have held on to his post today, but he has lost the confidence of the French people," declared a leader of the opposition bloc. "This government lacks a true mandate, and we have shown that there is a strong and determined opposition ready to defend our social model."
For now, François Bayrou's position is secure, but the event highlights the significant challenges his government will face in passing future legislation through a deeply divided parliament.
