Opposition MPs in France have filed two motions of no confidence against the government over its decision to use Article 49:3 to push through controversial pension reforms.

The government will face a no-confidence vote today (20 March) after President, Emmanual Macron, forced through measures, including the raising of the retirement age from 62 to 64, without a vote in the National Assembly.

Liot, a centrist party, and Nupes Alliance, a far-left group, co-signed a multi-party no-confidence motion, while the far-right National Rally, which has a total of 88 members in the National Assembly, also filed a no-confidence motion.

However, it seems unlikely that Macron’s government will lose the no-confidence votes unless there is an unprecedented alliance from across the political spectrum against it to meet the 287-vote absolute majority needed.

A sizeable number of MPs from the conservative Les Républicains party would need to vote in favour of the no-confidence motion for it to pass, but its leader, Éric Ciotti, warned his MPs against voting in favour of the motion.

Ciotti’s political office in his constituency of Nice was ransacked over his opposition to the no-confidence motions, and threats of riots were made.

Protests continued over the weekend over the government’s planned pension reforms, with police being deployed to disperse crowds.

A nationwide day of strike action has been scheduled for Thursday (23 March) by trade unions in France, with the main unions uniting in opposition to the proposals.

Despite the protests and his dwindling popularity due to the proposed reforms, Macron and his government are showing no signs of backing down.

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