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French government wins two no-confidence votes on energy law

A general view of the French National Assembly in Paris
The motions were tabled in the National Assembly

The French government has survived two no-confidence votes in parliament after it decided to adopt, through decree, a new energy law, without giving the National Assembly the final say.

The motion were filed by the far-right National Rally (RN) and the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) parties.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's government, which lacks a parliamentary majority, survived two similar votes after pushing a delayed budget through the National Assembly.

French electorate more eager to block hard-left than far-right - poll

Most French voters would seek to block the far-left from power in a two-round vote, according to a opinion poll.

It also suggests that the far-right National Rally (RN) is no longer seen as the country's most toxic party.

Nearly two-thirds of people polled by Elabe said they would seek to keep the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) from power by voting for a rival party in a two-round vote, compared with just 45% who planned to do the same for the RN.

The poll comes after the recent killing of far-right activist Quentin Deranque, allegedly by far-left militants.

The 23-year-old's death shocked the country and soured the national mood against the LFI.

An aide to one of its politicians is one of seven people under formal investigation for their alleged role in Mr Deranque's murder.

The suspects deny the allegations, prosecutors said.

The RN, long a byword for racism and antisemitism, has sought to use the threat of far-left violence as part of its efforts to gain greater mainstream credibility.

It is France's largest parliamentary party, and widely seen as a credible victor in next year's election.

For years, the RN was kept from power by a broad coalition of rival parties who would band together in second-round votes to make sure that the RN did not win.

Since the killing, its leaders have called on rivals to form a "sanitary cordon" against the LFI.

The poll suggests voters are heeding their call.

Former centre-left president Francois Hollande urged his Socialist Party to break with LFI.