French administration narrowly avoids a vote of no confidence

Only nine votes separated the French National Assembly from rejecting a motion of no confidence in President Emmanuel Macron’s administration. With 278 votes, the motion received the 287 necessary to pass.


The proposal to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 is being met with stiff resistance from Macron’s government. It has led to protests across the country after Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne used an article of the constitution to force the bill through the Parliament without a vote.

The rejection of the no-confidence vote was not a surprise, but the margin of victory was narrower than expected.

Analysts see the government would remain in place, although it would be significantly weakened, while social protests against the reform would likely continue for some weeks, which could negatively affect the French economy.

Unions and protesters, angry with the reform and with the fact that the pension reform was adopted without a vote, said they would carry on with strikes and protests.