French government survives no-confidence votes over pension bill

Far-left MPs protest against the bill (Lewis Joly/AP)

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

National Assembly MPs rejected both motions on 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.

#RéformeDesRetraites | Aucune motion de censure n'est adoptée
✅ Le #PLFRSS2023 est considéré comme adopté, compte tenu du texte de la CMP, modifié par un amendement de coordination du Gvt, en application de l’article 49.3 de la Constitution.
➡️ https://t.co/CdXyp6X4ow#DirectAN pic.twitter.com/ySOHgHUPhZ

— Assemblée nationale (@AssembleeNat) March 20, 2023

The far-right initiative won just 94 votes.

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