French PM Francois Bayrou survives no-confidence vote

PARIS, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The French lawmakers on Thursday voted against a no-confidence vote against French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou.

According to the results announced by Yael Braun-Pivet, speaker of the French National Assembly, only 131 deputies voted in favor of the no-confidence vote, far below the 289 votes requested.

This is the first no-confidence vote Bayrou has faced after he formed the government on Dec. 23, 2024.

Following his general policy speech on Tuesday, the French hard left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI) submitted a no-confidence vote against Bayrou.

But the Socialist Party (PS) announced earlier Thursday afternoon that it wouldn't support the no-confidence vote launched by its left-wing ally, which, according to LFI leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, would "divide" the left-wing party alliance New Popular Front (NFP).

French President Emmanuel Macron nominated Bayrou as France's new prime minister on Dec. 13 after Michel Barnier was ousted in a no-confidence vote. ■