The French centre-left Socialist party will not back a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's government, Le Figaro reported on Thursday, citing an intra-party meeting.

PARIS (Reuters) - The French Socialist Party, whose support Francois Bayrou's minority government has been trying to secure for weeks, on Tuesday raised the threat of backing a no-confidence vote against the government later this week.

France's government faces a another critical challenge as lawmakers debate a censure motion that will shed light on the Socialist Party's stance among the alliances within a fragmented French parliament.

The long-term survival prospects of French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's minority government have shrunk as he fights to keep the Socialist Party from backing a no-confidence vote on Thursday. Although Bayrou looks likely to ride out the no-confidence motion put forward by 58 far-left France Unbowed (LFI),