The prospects of French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's minority government surviving in the long term appeared slimmer after the Socialist Party raised the threat of backing a no-confidence vote on Thursday.

There should be “no totems or taboos” as new prime minister fights to reform pensions — and keep his job.

New French Prime Minister François Bayrou is considering changing the voting system for the National Assembly, he said in his first government statement on Tuesday. The 73-year-old has long been a proponent of introducing proportional representation in France.

Ahead of an expected trust vote, French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou has opened negotiations regarding a pension reforms to reach an understanding with left-wing lawmakers