French Government Survives Censure, to Pursue Privatization
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PARIS — France’s right-wing government today survived its first censure debate in Parliament, leaving it free to push ahead with plans to sell state-owned firms to the private sector.
A censure motion proposed by the Socialist opposition and supported by the Communists attracted 251 votes, 38 short of the required absolute majority.
In line with French constitutional procedure, the right-wing majority was not required to vote. The extreme-right National Front decided Thursday to abstain, ensuring the motion would be defeated by a comfortable margin.
The motion was put forward after Prime Minister Jacques Chirac introduced a guillotine procedure to curtail debate on a package of economic measures, including privatization of about 65 companies in state hands.
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