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French PM Bayrou survives fresh no-confidence motion

Members of the French National Assembly did not support a vote of no-confidence in Prime Minister François Bayrou proposed by the opposition Socialist Party, French media reported on Wednesday.

“On Thursday, June 26, 2025, Boris Vallaud and 65 of his colleagues submitted a motion of no-confidence in accordance with Article 49, paragraph 2 of the Constitution. On Tuesday, July 1, the National Assembly rejected the proposal,” the parliament’s official website said.

The motion of no confidence was passed by 189 deputies, with 289 votes required.

The resolution was initiated by the Socialist Party. The reason was Bayrou’s decision not to return the retirement age to 62, despite six months of consultations. The prime minister called the idea “unrealistic” and “financially burdensome.”

French President Emmanuel Macron had previously stated on May 13 that the reform, which would raise the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64, would not be put to a referendum. He noted that Bayrou had already begun negotiations with leading political forces and trade unions on possible adjustments to the reform.

Although the government managed to avoid resignation, National Rally leader Marine Le Pen warned that her party could support a vote of no-confidence in the future if the autumn budget proves too burdensome for citizens.

The budget debate in the autumn is expected to be tense.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Unbowed (LFI), criticised Bayrou on X:

“Bayrou’s demagogic speech about the debt accumulated by all the governments he has supported. The policies he defends have led to the current impasse. All this to avoid making the rich oligarchs pay for the common good of society.”

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