The motion of no confidence presented by a small centrist group and supported by a left-wing coalition received 278 votes in the National Assembly, below the 287 needed to pass. Another motion initiated by the extreme right received just 94 votes.
With the failure of the motions of censure, the pension bill is approved.
The close result of the first vote led some left-wing lawmakers to immediately call for the resignation of Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne.
“There are only nine votes left… to overthrow both the government and its reform,” said far-left lawmaker Mathilde Panot. “The government is already dead in the eyes of the French, it no longer has any legitimacy.”
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said her group will submit a request for the Constitutional Council to examine the bill on Tuesday and possibly censure it.
The no-confidence motions were filed by lawmakers furious that Macron ordered the use of special constitutional powers to force through an unpopular bill raising the retirement age without giving them a vote.
The Senate, dominated by conservatives who support the retirement plan, approved the law last week.
Each of the motions of censure needs the support of half the seats in the National Assembly, to be approved. Macron’s centrist alliance has more seats than any other group in the lower house.
The leader of the Republican lawmakers, Olivier Marleix, said his group would not vote in favor of the motions.
