French Socialist Prime Minster Manuel Valls has received the backing of the National Assembly in a confidence vote.

The government carried the vote 269 for 244 against.

The vote was triggered after three Socialist cabinet members were replaced in a reshuffle after they criticised government austerity measures.

Despite the victory French President Francois Hollande is deeply unpopular, add to that a 10 percent unemployment rate, no real economic growth, plus the savaging he received in the tell-all book by his former partner means the Socialists are struggling on a number of fronts.