The Socialist government headed by Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault won the confidence vote at the National Assembly on Tuesday, after presenting the country's general policies over the coming five years.

After a long speech by the prime minister in front of deputies detailing the government political, economic and social plans, the lower house of French parliament voted confidence in the new government by 302 ballots against 225.

Given the socialists' comfortable majority in the National Assembly since the June 17 election, Ayrault's winning of the confidence vote came as no surprise, paving the way to the seven-week cabinet to fulfill pledges of promoting economy and improving social welfare.

Outlining the government's roadmap to restore the health of the country's public finances, the prime minister stressed the need to trim budget deficit without sweeping austerity cuts.

In details, he mentioned policies to cut public spending, improve industrial competitiveness, boost job creation and improve education system.

"I claim the serious and responsible budget ... but I refuse austerity," Ayrault said.

"Yes, the public expenditure control is essential. But it will not be sufficient. New tax revenue will be mobilized," he added.

The government has set deficit target at 4.5 percent of GDP in 2012 and to zero gap five years later. However, it slashed growth estimation to 0.3 percent from an initial forecast of 0.7 percent due to eventual flagging economic activities.

To former Prime Minister Francois Fillon, Ayrault's program was "the announcement of an economic and social disaster."

"We are in France and Europe in an already extremely fragile economic situation, it is a slippery slope and it is the time for the government to choose to not lower public spending," Fillon told local channel Canal+.

Ayrault will present to the Senate, the upper parliament, a similar speech on the same subject on Wednesday.