French Socialists To File No Confidence Motion

Party leader Martine Aubry said she hoped the motion could be voted on next week.

France's opposition Socialists will file a motion of no confidence in the government this week in protest at its response to the financial crisis, new party leader Martine Aubry said on Monday.

In a New Year's address, Aubry, who took the reins of the Socialist party last year after a bitter leadership struggle with former presidential candidate Segolene Royal, said she hoped the motion could be voted on next week.

The motion has little chance of passing given the centre-right UMP's majority in parliament but Aubry said it was important to send a message to French voters.

"We want to use this means given to us by the constitution to say clearly to French people 'Another way is possible'." Aubry said.

President Nicolas Sarkozy last year unveiled a 26 billion euro ($34.18 billion) stimulus package to try to counter the sharp slowdown facing the euro zone's second biggest economy but the measure has been dismissed by the Socialists.

"This plan is not sufficient given the crisis facing us," Aubry said.