The French government could collapse later this week after leftist and far-right parties filed motions of no confidence. If approved by delegates, the motions – scheduled for a vote in the National Assembly on Wednesday – would force Prime Minister Michel Barnier to resign after just two and a half months in office.
The New Popular Front (NFP), a leftist coalition that includes Socialists, Greens, the far left, and the Communist Party, had already warned that it would move to topple the government if a decision to cut the social security budget were passed without a vote.
However, after Barnier invoked the controversial constitutional clause “49.3” to push through the legislation, Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally (RN) intensified the pressure by announcing that her party would file a second motion of no confidence.
Together, NFP and RN have enough delegates to bring down the government, which would mark the first time a French government has been ousted in this way since 1962.
In a last-ditch effort to avoid the crisis, Barnier made concessions to RN. Following discussions with Le Pen, Barnier announced on Monday that there would be no changes to medication reimbursements in 2025, contrary to the original plans.
Addressing the lower house, Barnier stated that he had consulted all parliamentary groups but emphasized the need to reduce the country’s public deficit.
“I respect the culture of compromise. Many hours of work have gone into enriching this text… it has undergone multiple evolutions,” he said.
He told delegates they were facing a “moment of truth.”
“This means everyone must confront their responsibilities. The French people will not forgive you if you put special political interests above the nation’s future. Everyone must take responsibility for their actions, and I am taking responsibility for mine,” he declared.
Le Pen, the leader of RN’s parliamentary group, accused Barnier – whom President Emmanuel Macron appointed as prime minister in September – of failing to honor his promise to listen to political groups opposing the budget proposal.
“He approached RN a week ago, and we reiterated our red lines. These red lines were not pulled out of a hat for our satisfaction. It is unjust for the French people to bear the consequences of Emmanuel Macron’s incompetence over the past seven years. The French must not be punished for what they are not responsible for, while their leaders are,” she said.
Le Pen added, “There are other ways to address the already high deficit. We presented proposals. The government refused to compromise. Michel Barnier says he is taking responsibility. We are taking ours.”
Mathilde Panot, a representative of the far-left France Unbowed (LFI), commented on the no-confidence motion: “We can bring down Barnier and this budget.”
She criticized the government’s last-minute talks with the far right as “bargaining” and described it as “all a trick,” blaming Macron for plunging the country into chaos.
If the no-confidence motion passes on Wednesday, Barnier will be forced to offer his resignation. However, he and his ministers could remain in a caretaker capacity until Macron announces a new government.
Macron could ask the parties to form a new coalition majority or appoint a strictly technocratic government, bringing in figures from outside politics to manage the country until new parliamentary elections in the summer. General elections cannot be held within 12 months of the previous vote.
Last week, Barnier, the former European Union (EU) Brexit negotiator, warned that a no-confidence vote would cause “a major storm and very serious turbulence on financial markets.”
France has been in political turmoil since Macron called snap elections in June, leaving parliament divided into three political blocs – left, center, and far-right – none of which holds an absolute majority.
The deadlock stems from the government’s efforts to tackle France’s growing public deficit by raising taxes and cutting 60 billion euros in spending in its 2025 budget, N1 writes.
Photo: Elysee
