(CLO) French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou survived a vote of no confidence brought by the left wing on Thursday (January 16).
Specifically, only 131 lawmakers voted for a no-confidence motion - far short of the required 288. "The motion was not passed without a majority," said French National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet.
Earlier, the center-left Socialist Party and the far-right National Front (RN) both signaled that they would not support the vote, helping Mr Bayrou pass this first "test" since taking office last month.
Scene of the vote of no confidence against French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou. Photo: French Government
However, Mr Bayrou's minority government in France's parliament still faces an uphill battle to pass the 2025 budget - a task that brought down his predecessor, Michel Barnier.
In particular, Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure warned that Bayrou's pledge to reopen talks on pension reform was not enough, and that his party would back a vote of no confidence if there was no clear response to their demands.
To win the Socialist Party's support, Mr Bayrou detailed further concessions in a letter, from cancelling cuts to state health reimbursements, increasing hospital spending more than in the previous budget and cancelling plans to lay off 4,000 teachers.
Mr Bayrou also agreed to keep in place concessions made by his predecessor Barnier, including postponing the electricity tariff hike and raising all pensions in line with inflation at a cost of €3.6bn.
He also pledged to push ahead with a series of €21bn tax hikes planned by his predecessor Barnier, specifically targeting the rich and big companies.
Political instability in France, which has seen four prime ministers change hands in the past year, has shaken the country in every way, from the economy to society.
Hoang Huy (according to Gouv.fr, France24, Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/thu-tuong-phap-francois-bayrou-vuot-qua-cuoc-bo-phieu-bat-tin-nhiem-post330749.html
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