France: Government survives no-confidence vote

The French National Assembly rejected a no-confidence vote against the government of President Emmanuel Macron by just nine votes. The motion needed 287 votes to pass and got 278. 

Macron’s government is facing strong opposition to the bill to increase the retirement age from 62 to 64. 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.