Tue | May 30, 2023

Update | French government survives no-confidence votes over pensions

Published:Monday | March 20, 2023 | 3:25 PM
French lawmakers gather at the National Assembly in Paris, Monday, March 20, 2023. France's government is fighting for its survival Monday against no-confidence motions filed by lawmakers who are furious that President Emmanuel Macron used special constitutional powers to force through an unpopular bill raising the retirement age from 62 to 64 without giving them a vote. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

PARIS (AP) — The French government has survived two no-confidence votes in the lower chamber of parliament, proposed by lawmakers who objected to its push to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

National Assembly lawmakers rejected both motions Monday — one from the far-right National Rally and the other, more threatening one from a small centrist group that gathered support across the left.

The first motion, by the centrists, garnered 278 votes, falling short of the 287 needed to pass.

The far-right initiative won just 94 votes.

With the failure of both votes Monday, the pension bill is considered adopted.

The no-confidence motions were filed by lawmakers furious that Macron ordered the use of special constitutional powers to force through an unpopular bill raising the retirement age without giving them a vote.

The Senate, dominated by conservatives who back the retirement plan, approved the legislation last week.

The no-confidence motions needed the backing of half the seats in the National Assembly to pass. Macron's centrist alliance has more seats than any other group in the lower chamber.

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