France’s Socialist government on Thursday survived a parliamentary vote of confidence called over a controversial set of reforms it insists are crucial to unblock the eurozone’s second biggest economy.

France's Socialist government on Thursday survived a parliamentary vote of confidence called over a controversial set of reforms it insists are crucial to unblock the eurozone's second biggest economy.

A total of 234 mainly opposition deputies voted for the motion of no-confidence -- sparked when Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Tuesday forced through the reform package without a parliamentary vote -- far short of the number required to bring down the government.