Holding the Government to account

A motion of no confidence allows members of the National Assembly to call for the Government to step down. To pass, it must secure the support of a majority of all members of the National Assembly, not simply a majority of the votes cast.

A mechanism for parliamentary scrutiny

A motion may be tabled as part of scrutiny of the Government or after the Government has made the passage of a bill a matter of confidence under Article 49.3. The conditions for tabling and voting on a motion are governed by the Constitution.

Key point: if the motion passes, the Prime Minister must submit the Government’s resignation. It does not end the President of the Republic’s term of office.