The motion of censure filed by La France Insoumise (LFI) against the government of François Bayrou was overwhelmingly rejected on Thursday, January 16, by the National Assembly. With only 131 votes, the motion fell far short of the 288 required to overthrow the Prime Minister

A Socialist Party Breaking with LFI

One of the major surprises of the vote was the stance taken by the Socialist Party (PS), which, after an internal vote, decided not to support the motion of censure. This decision sparked intense anger within the ranks of LFI. Mathilde Panot, leader of the LFI group, accused the socialists of “isolating themselves from the rest of the New Popular Front (NFP)” and of “siding with Emmanuel Macron.” Only eight Socialist deputies out of 66 voted in favor of the censure, deepening tensions between the various factions of the left.

LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon also condemned the decision on social media: “The PS fractures the NFP, but it capitulates alone. The other three groups voted for the censure. We continue the fight.”

A Defensive Strategy for the Socialists

In response to the criticism, the first secretary of the PS, Olivier Faure, justified the party’s position by defending a strategy of compromise:

“We remain a firm and left-wing opposition, but we have achieved concrete progress for the French people.”

Among the advances negotiated with François Bayrou are:

• The retention of the tax on high incomes in the 2025 budget.
• The abandonment of the elimination of 4,000 teaching jobs in the education system.
• The creation of 2,000 additional positions to support students with disabilities.

François Bayrou praised this agreement, stating that a “path of understanding” was now possible to build a majority on solid foundations:

“Another path, difficult but necessary, is emerging to build a different future.”

A Debate Marked by Tensions

Beyond the political negotiations, the debates in the National Assembly were marked by particularly heated exchanges. Manuel Bompard, coordinator of LFI, criticized the PS’s position, calling it “an unacceptable renouncement.” In response, Socialist deputy Jérôme Guedj denounced “the moralizers,” accusing LFI of trying to impose “submission” on its left-wing partners.

Despite the rejection, Mathilde Panot reminded everyone that LFI remains “the alternative that continues to fight,” reaffirming its outright opposition to the government.

A New Power Struggle on the Left

The rejection of the motion of censure reveals deep divisions within the left, now split between LFI’s confrontational strategy and the PS’s stance of compromise. While Prime Minister François Bayrou seems to be strengthening his parliamentary support, the left struggles to display the unity that could challenge the government.