France's divided parliament has passed a €20bn aid package to help low-income families deal with the cost of living crisis in the first major piece of legislation since elections last month deprived President Macron's allies of an absolute majority, reports RFI.
The vote in the early hours of the morning provided a boost for President Emmanuel Macron's centrist government, which is 39 seats short of a majority and was desperate to show it could build consensus.
The so-called "emergency purchasing power bill" passed with 341 MPs in favour, 116 against and 21 abstentions in a vote that took place shortly before 6:00 am on Friday.
The legislation proposes a range of measures designed to help consumers in the face of soaring inflation which last month reached 6.5 percent, in line with other euro zone countries.
It includes a four percent increase in pensions and welfare payments, a pay rise for public sector workers, food cheques and a mechanism for companies to make higher tax-free bonus payments to employees.
It will also temporarily cap rent hikes, extend fuel tax cuts and gives the government powers to tackle a looming energy crisis caused by the fallout of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.