Paris (Sputnik) – France’s left-wing opposition lawmakers failed to collect the required number of signatures to endorse a vote of no-confidence to Prime Minister Manuel Valls’ government, the ruling socialist party’s Fronde member Christian Paul told reporters on Wednesday.
According to Paul, the proposal to hold the vote was supported by 56 out of the required 58 lawmakers.
The proposal was voiced after French authorities decided to push through with the unpopular labor reform bill bypassing a parliamentary vote. On Tuesday, Valls used his right to pass the bill through the parliament in the second reading, bypassing a parliamentary vote. The parliament since had 24 hours to collect signatures necessary to endorse a vote of no-confidence to the government.
The draft law on labor reform has been widely criticized as it would make it easier for companies to lay off staff and cut payment for overtime work. French cities have been rocked by mass protests against the labor reforms bill since late March, with mainly the youth protesting against amendments to the French labor code that may lead to an increase in working hours, among other unpopular measures.
In May, the French government survived a no-confidence motion proposed by the right-wing opposition amid the labor market reforms.
