Explained: What is a motion de censure in French politics?
And what happens if one passes?
A motion de censure takes place in France’s National Assembly
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A motion de censure (vote of no confidence) is a vote brought against the prime minister by MPs, which, if passed by a majority, will lead to the government resigning.
Read more: Why is French left bringing motion of no confidence against PM Barnier if it cannot pass?
The legislative tool was enshrined in article 49 of the Constitution in 1958 under the Fifth Republic.
A motion de censure can be spontanée (spontaneous) or provoquée (prompted).
The ‘spontaneous’ motion is submitted by MPs who form a coalition to denounce the policies of the government. The ‘prompted’ motion is brought forward against a government which tries to pass a specific law using article 49.3, which allows it to pass a law without submitting it to a parliamentary vote.
Read more: What is France’s article 49.3 and why is it back in the news again?
A motion de censure needs to be signed by at least 10% of the total of MPs at the Assemblée nationale (National Assembly, France's lower parliament) or 58 MPs to be voted on. The vote cannot happen within 48 hours of submission.
It needs a majority of votes to pass, i.e. 289 of the Assemblée nationale’s 577 MPs.
If it reaches that threshold, the government has to resign and the parliament has 14 days to form a new government.
Vote of confidence
As well as the motion de censure, a vote de confiance (vote of confidence) can also take place. This is a vote that follows the introductory speech of a newly appointed prime minister and is meant to be a show of support.
It is a constitutional formality and a tradition rather than a rule but only eight prime ministers out of 25 in the Fifth Republic have declined to initiate this vote.
New prime ministers choose not to hold the vote if they believe that they would not receive more than half of the votes, or to show their allegiance to the president that appointed them rather than the parliament.
The government resigns if no confidence is voted. This has never happened.
A motion de censure is equivalent to a vote of no confidence in the UK.
Read more: President Macron’s approval rating at record low in new French poll
Only one motion de censure passed
Motions de censure have regularly been submitted but just one was passed under the Fifth Republic, on October 5, 1962.
It was voted to protest the decision of Charles de Gaulle to organise a referendum on a revision of the constitution. A total of 280 MPs voted for the motion out of 480 at the time. Georges Pompidou, then prime minister, resigned. Mr de Gaulle dissolved the Assemblée nationale in response.
