The Latest Breaking News from Sarah Meyssonnier

A motion of no-confidence brought against French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne by a broad left-wing alliance failed in a vote in the National Assembly on Monday after opposition conservative MPs and the far-right opted not to vote, a count showed.

France heads to the polls on June 12 and 19 for parliamentary elections.

With France's presidential race tightening ahead of Sunday's first round vote, favourites President Emmanuel Macron and far-right challenger Marine Le Pen battled over pension reform in broadcast interviews on Monday.

French President Emmanuel Macron warned of the risk of a Brexit-style election upset in his only campaign rally before the first round of the presidential election, in a bid to convince dispirited voters and re-energise a lacklustre campaign.

The mainstream Conservative challenger in France's presidential election said on Thursday she would push for a hefty increase in defence spending, and laid into the pro-Russia views previously expressed by rivals further right along the political spectrum.

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, whose campaign for the presidency has been shaken by a series of defections, told a campaign meeting she has what it takes to bounce back after overcoming many challenges in her personal life.