Government Survives Vote of Confidence in France

PARIS — France’s Socialist government survived a confidence vote in the National Assembly on Thursday, two days after it forced through a contentious package of economic measures without a ballot.

The confidence vote, the outcome of which was widely anticipated, ensures that the bill, best known for loosening restrictions on opening stores on Sundays, will advance.

“Do not challenge the legitimacy of the president of the republic, of this majority, of this government,” he said. “My duty, and the duty of this government, was to ensure that this bill was passed.”

The bill will go before the Senate, France’s upper house of Parliament, in March.

The New York Times