New French PM survives first no-confidence motion

Paris: France s new prime minister Michel Barnier on Tuesday survived a motion of no confidence brought by the left, a first test for his government w...

Paris: France's new prime minister Michel Barnier on Tuesday survived a motion of no confidence brought by the left, a first test for his government whose support in parliament is fragile.

The motion, which would have needed 289 votes to be adopted by a majority of the 577-seat National Assembly, was supported by only 197 lawmakers.

The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition had put forward the motion with Socialist Party (PS) leader Olivier Faure defending it, but he admitted that it was soundly beaten.

"There was very little suspense," said Faure.

"Now, the French know who is in the majority and who is in the opposition," he admitted, while accusing Barnier of being a "hostage and accomplice of the extreme right" that will now "demand pledges from him".