French parliament head stresses stability ahead of no-confidence vote

French parliament head Yael Braun-Pivet emphasised the importance of maintaining stability as lawmakers prepare for a no-confidence vote against PM François Bayrou. She highlighted key priorities such as the budget and upcoming legisla

The head of France’s lower house of parliament, Yaël Braun-Pivet, highlighted potential challenges if a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government were to succeed, emphasising the importance of budget stability and legislative continuity.

Politicians from the far-left France Unbowed (LFI), Green and Communist parties have put forward a no-confidence motion against Bayrou's minority government. The political instability in France, which had four prime ministers last year, has rattled markets.

While Bayrou is likely to survive the vote for now, the loss of support from the centre-left Socialist Party, especially after concessions on education and pension reform, would be a major blow.

"We have the budget, that is priority number one," parliament head Yaël Braun-Pivet told TF1 TV.
"Today, we must all come together and get over our differences, to get the country moving forward and to be able to respond to matters of great importance," she added.

Socialist leader Olivier Faure has said Bayrou's pledge to re-open talks on pension reform was not enough, saying the party would back the no-confidence vote absent a clear response to their demands.

Braun-Pivet said that if the no-confidence motion went through, France would also be unable to push through legislation on farming and a special law on Mayotte, France's overseas territory that was battered by a cyclone last month.

The no-confidence vote will be debated later on Thursday afternoon.

Braun-Pivet's remarks reflect a broader call for political stability as lawmakers navigate a period of uncertainty, with key policies and governance structures at stake.

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