French PM survives challenge in parliament

France's Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne survived a vote of no-confidence in parliament on Monday, as an alliance of left-wing lawmakers registered their disapproval of President Emmanuel Macron's government and its dealings with the right-wing National Rally party.

It is a tradition in a newly formed parliament that opposition groups are offered a vote of no-confidence in the prime minister, but Borne failed to honor that when the parliament came together.

As it turned out, the motion won just 146 votes rather than the 289 votes needed for the motion to pass. But Manuel Bompard, a member of parliament for the far-left La France Insoumise party, told the Euronews website that it was far from being a token gesture.

"It's not 'symbolic' to know whether MPs trust the government and the prime minister in place. It is actually decisive," he said.

"It's because Madame Borne didn't call for a confidence vote that we filed this motion… I hope those who say they disagree with the government's position will demonstrate through their vote and that this will clarify who is in the opposition and who is with the government in this country."

Borne, the second woman to hold the position of prime minister in France, was appointed by Macron following his presidential success, but offered to resign when En Marche lost its outright parliamentary majority.

Under pressure

She is now under pressure to build bridges with other parties to get his legislative program through parliament and his flirtation with the far-right National Rally, which has angered some opponents. Olivier Faure, secretary of the Socialist Party, said the relationship with National Rally was "unprecedented in the history of the Republic".

Borne hit back at her critics, reminding them that they too did not have a governing majority. "If you come up with a plan, I will listen… but I think you're just angry－at democracy and at the election results," she said.

"We should be debating the issues the French are facing, this no-confidence vote is unfair," she said before the vote took place, dismissing it as "just political tactics".

The failure of the no-confidence vote will be a welcome bit of good news for Macron, coming at a time when he is under fire over allegations about his dealings with ride-hailing app Uber during his time as economy minister, when the company was getting established in France.

"Emmanuel Macron is the president of the lobbies, who drives for Uber," said Mathilde Panot, the Nupes leader in the National Assembly. She called the vote an act of "defiance".