On October 8, the French National Assembly voted on a no-confidence motion against the newly established government, but the attempt ultimately failed, according to reports from China News Service in Paris.

The no-confidence motion, put forth by the left-wing coalition known as the “New People’s Front,” was brought to debate in the National Assembly, culminating in a vote that evening. Although the motion received 197 votes in favor, it did not achieve the necessary absolute majority of 289 votes for passage. This outcome was anticipated, especially since the far-right National Rally party opted not to support the motion.

Olivier Faure, the First Secretary of the French Socialist Party, was the spokesperson for the “New People’s Front” during the session. He argued that the new government’s formation does not accurately represent the outcomes of the recent parliamentary elections. Faure stated that to secure the far-right’s approval and prevent the government from collapsing, it would need to make significant concessions.

In her response, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne acknowledged her government’s minority status, yet she emphasized that no party holds an absolute majority in the National Assembly. Borne criticized Faure for initiating the no-confidence motion so early, suggesting that it stemmed from political ambitions rather than the overall interest of the nation.

The “New People’s Front” comprises the far-left party La France Insoumise, the Socialist Party, the French Communist Party, and the Greens. This coalition gained a relative majority in the National Assembly during the summer elections, currently holding 192 seats, but still falls short of the absolute majority required for independent control. Additionally, President Emmanuel Macron rejected the Prime Minister candidate proposed by this coalition. Currently, Borne leads the government with support primarily from the center-right Republicans and Macron’s party.

Public sentiment in France indicates that the new government faces considerable challenges moving forward. Borne’s administration is slated to present its budget proposal to the Assembly later this week, and successfully navigating this process will represent her next significant hurdle.

In a related development, a proposal by La France Insoumise to remove President Macron was also formally halted on the same day, meaning that the National Assembly will not be discussing any related proposals.