Vote of no confidence against French PM brought by left is widely rejected

A vote of no confidence (motion de censure) against new prime minister Michel Barnier has been roundly rejected in the Assemblée nationale after it failed to win support from any centrist or right and far-right MPs.

The motion, brought by the left-wing alliance Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) yesterday (October 8) received 197 votes, far from the 289 (an absolute majority of MPs) needed for it to pass and force the government to resign.

The vast majority of MPs who voted in favour belonged to the NFP – 192 of its 193 MPs signed the motion before it was brought forward – with a few unaffiliated left-wing MPs joining them.

Members of Macron’s centrist coalition, the right-wing Les Républicains, far-right Rassemblement National (RN), and unaffiliated rightist MPs did not vote for the motion.

It is expected to be the first of many votes of no confidence, as the left-wing alliance continues to criticise the appointment of Mr Barnier as prime minister.

Government is ‘hostage of far-right’ 

Left-wing MPs knew the motion had no chance of passing, however the debate was used to criticise the policies of Mr Barnier and his cabinet coming just ahead of debate around the 2025 budget (due to be announced tomorrow).

In addition, MPs say it was a political manoeuvre aimed to highlight the weakness of the government, which has a relative, but not absolute majority.

The combination of centrist and right-wing MPs making up the government is still far short of the threshold of an absolute majority required to control the chamber. 

Read more: GRAPH: See seats by party in new French parliament

Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure, who was the main speaker in favour of the motion, said the French population were victims of an “electoral hold-up” after the vote, and that Mr Barnier should “never have been appointed” after the results of July’s snap legislative elections. 

“The French now know who is in the majority and who is in opposition… [Mr Barnier] is a hostage and accomplice of the far-right,” he added, saying the group will “demand assurances” of the government on future legislation. 

“It's mathematical: without the support of the RN, your government would be overthrown,” said Green MP Cyrielle Chatelain, during the debate. 

The failure of the motion to pass was “the demonstration of a political agreement between Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen,” she added. 

The combined strength of left and far-right MPs is more than enough to pass a vote of no confidence, triggering the resignation of the prime minister and his government and forcing the formation of a new cabinet. 

Read more: Explained: What is a motion de censure in French politics?

However, the RN says that for now it will not vote in favour of any motion – perhaps because they now hold influence over the government. 

During the debate, far-right MP Guillaume Bigot called the vote ‘sulky’ and ‘capricious’, and said it would “only lead to chaos” if passed.