France's Socialists have filed a no-confidence measure against Prime Minister Francois Bayrou after pension talks collapsed, a senior party lawmaker said on Tuesday, but it has little chance of passing without the support of the far-right National Rally which for the moment has suggested it will not follow suit.
Months-long talks between French trade unions and employers over reforms to the pension system crumbled late on Monday, prompting Bayrou to summon both sides for talks to find a way forward.
In parliament on Tuesday, Bayrou said he was still convinced that there was "a path, albeit a very difficult one, that can lead us out of this impasse".
But in what were billed as last-chance talks, pension negotiators failed to agree on how to amend the unpopular 2023 overhaul of the pension system that will gradually raise the retirement age to 64 from 62.
Unions wanted to allow workers with physically taxing jobs to retire earlier, and to give more weight to maternity leave, while employers were wary of concessions that could weigh on the system's finances.
Up until now, centrist Bayrou has managed to stay afloat despite a deeply divided lower assembly, thanks to the support of the Socialists.
But Boris Vallaud, leader of the Socialists in the lower house, told parliament Tuesday evening that Bayrou had not kept his promise to put a new pension reform bill to parliament.
"This compels us to file a motion of censure," Vallaud said.
Bayrou's government survives no-confidence vote over France's 2025 budget
Weakened position
Bayrou is already in a weak position. His centrist government – which brings together President Emmanuel Macron's Ensemble alliance and the conservative Republicans – could fall anytime if left-wing and far-right parties band together to back the no-confidence motion.
The hard-left France Unbowed has previously supported the idea of a confidence vote, but even with the support of the Socialists, it would be unlikely to fell the government unless it gets the backing of Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN).
RN lawmaker Gaëtan Dussausaye said his party was not looking to topple Bayrou's government, and Le Pen did not mention such a move when she addressed parliament.
Bayrou finds himself in a similar situation to his predecessor Michel Barnier, whose three-month-long administration was propped up by the RN until it backed a no-confidence measure in December over his belt-tightening 2025 budget bill.
The prospect of a no-confidence vote also augurs badly for Bayrou in the lead up to even tougher talks over the 2026 budget bill, with the government seeking to push through 40 billion euros in spending cuts.
(with newswires)
