The French government survived a no-confidence vote in parliament on Monday over its handling of a severe late-June heatwave that has been linked to 2,025 excess deaths so far, according to French health authorities.
The motion was filed by France’s Green Party, whose lawmakers accused the government of failing to do enough to reduce the impact of the heatwave. Health authorities have warned that the number of excess deaths is likely to rise.
The no-confidence motion needed 289 votes to pass but was backed by only 132 members of parliament.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu defended the government before the vote, warning lawmakers that the motion would not help people affected by the heat or strengthen public services.
“No one is fooled. This motion will not protect an isolated elderly person. It will not cool down a hospital room. It will not modernise a water supply network. On the contrary, it will add a political crisis to climate, healthcare and international crises that the government already must deal with,” Lecornu said.
The vote came as firefighters were battling a wildfire in southwestern France that forced the evacuation of 10,000 people.
Early summer heatwaves in France and across western Europe have left scorched land more vulnerable to wildfires this year. Temperatures are also expected to rise again.
