PARIS — French Prime Minister François Bayrou survived a no-confidence vote Tuesday after lawmakers from the far-right National Rally declined to join an effort to bring him down.
The measure was not expected to pass given the National Rally indicated last week it would not support the move against Bayrou, which was put forward by the center-left Socialist Party after retirement reform talks fell apart last week.
But of the eight no-confidence votes filed against Bayrou’s government, Tuesday’s drew the most support and left the government’s survival in the hands of the far right.
Bayrou is now feeling the heat like never before, and not just from the extreme heat wave gripping Europe.
While far-right leader Marine Le Pen said there was “zero” benefit from ousting the government right now, her allies have signaled that they could look to topple Bayrou during budget talks later this year.
The government is seeking €40 billion in savings to rein in the deficit, but France’s fractured parliament remains deeply divided on how to get the country’s public finances in order.
The government is expected to present its first policy proposals later this month, ahead of a parliamentary debate in the fall.
