French gov't survives no-confidence votes over bodyguard scandal

PARIS - The National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament, on Tuesday rejected two censure motions against the government after a video showed President Emmanuel Macron's ex-bodyguard beating a protester on May Day, which had put the ruling camp on the hot seat.

Macron's government, a mix of old hands and novices, survived its first no-confidence vote in parliament with lawmakers backing the motions fell short of the 289 votes needed for victory.

Revealed by Le Monde newspaper on July 18, footage showed Alexandre Benalla, Macron's top security aide, wearing police badge and helmet and hitting a protester at a May Day protest.

Paris prosecutor's office opened a judicial investigation against the 26-year-old man on charges of violence in meetings and interference in police officer's work.

On Monday, a second probe was opened after two young men had claimed being violently beaten by Banalla who had been sacked after the incident went public.

Although the government tried to handle the scandal, Macron's disgraced bodyguard ignited opposition of the president's jupiterian ruling style, with lawmakers from the right wing opposition and left parties having each filed a vote of confidence.

But, since Macron's Republic On The Move (LREM) party holds a comfortable majority in the National Assembly, the two votes failed to topple the government.

A total of 143 lawmakers backed the motion proposed by the conservative the Republicans party and 74 deputies supported the one filed by the left wing parties.

"The events of May 1 say nothing about the presidency of Emmanuel Macron. Your motions are nothing more than that of blockade," said Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, stressing that the government had "no intention to slow down".

"We will not let go, we will go to the end of our project," he added.