Paris: Newly appointed Prime Minister François Bayrou survived a no-confidence vote on Thursday after the opposition Socialist Party chose not to back the motion.
In the surprise turn of events, most Socialist lawmakers decided not to withdraw their confidence in Bayrou’s government unlike their left-wing allies, including the Greens and the Communists.
The vote was requested by the leftist France Unbowed (LFI) party on Tuesday evening, shortly after Bayrou’s first government address.
Bayrou’s minority government may now be able to rely on the support of the Socialists for future plans - and thus avoid becoming dependent on the far-right bloc led by Marine Le Pen. His predecessor Michel Barnier was rejected by the entire left-wing camp in France. Only the right-wing nationalists tolerated his minority Cabinet. (DPA)