French left-wing MPs file no-confidence motion after agriculture bill rejected

A group of Members of Parliament from left-wing parties has submitted a no-confidence motion against the government of François Bayrou in the National Assembly after a bill aimed at easing agricultural regulations was rejected during a recent debate.

The motion was initiated by the France Unbowed (LFI) party, alongside the New Popular Front (NFP) and deputies from the Ecologists, who jointly issued the request. The no-confidence vote is scheduled to be considered on June 4 at 14:00 (16:00 GMT+4), Caliber.Az reports.

In their statement, the left-wing MPs described the bill’s rejection after the debate deadline as a “parliamentary 49.3,” referring to the constitutional provision that allows the government to pass laws without parliamentary approval. They accused deputies from the pro-presidential bloc and several right-wing parties, including the National Rally—whose parliamentary faction is led by Marine Le Pen—of deliberately refusing to debate the bill.

According to the request, these parties voted against the bill because it missed the time limits for discussion due to the submission of 1,500 amendments by the Ecologists and 800 by LFI. Consequently, they opted to send the bill to the inter-parliamentary commission for further consideration.

The bill, proposed by Senator Laurent Duplom from the Republicans, was debated amid ongoing demonstrations organised by farmers' unions demanding no changes be made to the version of the text agreed upon by the Senate. The initiative seeks to relax certain restrictions on agriculture, notably easing environmental requirements and authorising the use of certain pesticides.

Following the formal rejection of the bill on May 26, the largest farmers’ union, FNSEA, expressed satisfaction that the bill remained under consideration and announced the suspension of protests.

By Sabina Mammadli