Published: 12:48, January 15, 2025
French Socialist Party raises threat of backing no-confidence vote against government
By Reuters
Socialist Party secretary general Olivier Faure (left), talks to socialists parliament members Boris Vallaud (top), and Dieynaba Diop (right), as French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou delivers his general policy speech, Jan 14, 2025 at the National Assembly in Paris. (PHOTO / AP)

PARIS - The French Socialist Party, whose support Francois Bayrou's minority government has been trying to secure for weeks, on Tuesday raised the threat of backing a no-confidence vote against the government later this week.

ALSO READ: Macron wants new PM in 48 hours, Socialists call govt talks 'inconclusive'

The Socialists, who voted down previous budget proposals in December in conjunction with far-right lawmakers and thereby precipitated the fall of Michel Barnier's government, have made concessions on the 2023 pension reform a condition for support.

Earlier in the day, during a speech to Parliament, Bayrou opened the door to renegotiating the disputed pension reform but Faure said this was not good enough.

READ MORE: France's new cabinet faces test of stability

"We will back a no-confidence vote, unless we get a clear response to our demands," Faure told the TF1 evening news bulletin on Tuesday.