French Prime Minister Bayrou survives 2 no-confidence votes

France's Prime Minister Francois Bayrou survived a challenge to his authority after two votes of confidence in his minority government were defeated in the country's parliament, the National Assembly, on Wednesday.

In December Bayrou was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron to become the fourth different person to hold the post last year, as France continues to try to find a way out of the political deadlock caused by elections last summer that left the country with a hung parliament.

Far-left members, who have the largest representation in the assembly but not an overall majority, tabled two no-confidence motions against the centrist prime minister after he resorted to using special constitutional powers to force through budgetary legislation.