What is a motion of no confidence?
It is a parliamentary instrument that allows deputies to call the Government’s political responsibility into question. If the motion is adopted with the required 289 votes, the Government is brought down.
Motions of no confidence
Understand motions of no confidence, Article 49.3 and voting rules in the French National Assembly.
In brief
- A motion of no confidence allows deputies to bring down the Government
- At least 58 signatures are required to table one
- It requires 289 votes to be adopted when all 577 seats are used as the reference
- After Article 49.3 is used, it is the only way to prevent the bill from being deemed adopted
- If it is rejected with fewer than 289 votes → the Government remains in office and the text is deemed adopted
Read a motion of no confidence step by step
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary act that allows deputies to challenge the Government’s political responsibility.
In CIVIX, this guide provides a clear institutional reference for distinguishing the different situations and reading the results accurately.
Essential reference points
These points are enough to understand how the procedure generally works.
What is it for?
It allows the National Assembly to decide politically whether the Government should remain in office.
The connection with Article 49.3
When the Government commits its responsibility under Article 49, paragraph 3 of the Constitution, the text is deemed adopted unless a motion of no confidence is passed. If the motion is adopted with the required 289 votes, the Government falls and the text is not adopted. If it is rejected with fewer than 289 votes, the Government remains in office and the text is deemed adopted.
An absolute majority is required
To be adopted, a motion of no confidence must receive an absolute majority of all members of the National Assembly: 289 votes out of 577 when all seats are used as the reference.
What happens after Article 49.3 is used
This simple diagram helps explain the logic of the procedure.
- Article 49.3 used
- Motion of no confidence tabled
- Vote by deputies
❌ Motion rejected (fewer than 289 votes) → Government remains in office + text deemed adopted
✅ Motion adopted (289 votes required) → Government brought down
The two situations to distinguish
The signature rule depends on the constitutional basis for the motion of no confidence.
Ordinary motion of no confidence — Article 49, paragraph 2
At least 58 signatures are required to table the motion. A deputy may not sign more than 3 motions during the same ordinary session, or more than 1 during the same extraordinary session.
Motion tabled after Article 49.3 — Article 49, paragraph 3
At least 58 signatures are required to table the motion. The limit of 3 signatures per ordinary session and 1 per extraordinary session does not apply in this situation.
Signing and voting: two separate acts
Signing a motion
Supporting its tabling and allowing it to be formally presented.
Voting on a motion
Taking part in the recorded public vote that follows its tabling.
Examples and historical reference points
A few clear reference points place motions of no confidence in their historical context.
Recent example
Recent motion of no confidence (CIVIX ballot)
Ballot no. 5730
Result: motion rejected
Votes in favour: 140
Explanation: no absolute majority (289 votes required)
Timeline
- 1962 — First motion adopted under the Fifth Republic → Government brought down
- 4 December 2024 — Second motion adopted under the Fifth Republic → Government brought down
What happens if a motion of no confidence is adopted?
These are the main institutional consequences, explained clearly.
- A motion adopted with 289 votes brings down the Government
- The Prime Minister submits the Government’s resignation
- The President of the Republic must appoint a new Government
- A text connected with Article 49.3 is not adopted in this situation
- A period of political instability may follow
- The President may choose to dissolve the National Assembly
How can I see this in CIVIX?
CIVIX lets you view ballots concerning motions of no confidence, deputies’ votes and the positions of political groups.
Frequently asked questions
Who can table a motion of no confidence?
A motion is tabled by deputies and must have signatures from at least one tenth of the members of the National Assembly, which means 58 signatures.
Do abstentions count towards adopting the motion?
No. Only votes in favour of the motion are counted. It must reach an absolute majority of all members of the National Assembly.
Can a rejected motion still block Article 49.3?
No. If a motion tabled after Article 49.3 is not adopted, the Government remains in office and the text is deemed adopted.