Far-right and left-wing forces in France are expected to unite on Wednesday to oust the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier in a historic vote of no confidence due to disagreements over the budget. If the proposal succeeds, it would be the first time a French government has been overthrown in this way in more than 60 years.
President Emmanuel Macron has insisted he will serve out the rest of his term until 2027 despite growing opposition calls for his departure amid the unrest. But Macron will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after his party lost in the legislative elections that took place in July.
Macron, returning from a presidential visit to Saudi Arabia, said discussions about his possible resignation were “fake politics”, according to French media reports.
“I am here because I was elected twice by the French people,” Macron said. He was also quoted as saying: “We should not scare people with such things. We have a strong economy.”
The no-confidence motion arose out of strong opposition to Barnier’s proposed budget.
The National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament, is deeply divided, with no single party enjoying a majority. It consists of three main blocs: Macron’s centrist allies, the left-wing New Popular Front coalition, and the far-right National Rally party. Opposition blocs, which are usually at odds, unite against Barnier, accusing him of imposing austerity measures and failing to meet the needs of citizens.
Barnier, a conservative appointed in September, could become the country’s shortest serving prime minister in the modern Republic of France.
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In a last-minute effort to try to save his government, Barnier called on lawmakers to act “responsibly” and think about the “best interest of the country.”
“The situation is very difficult economically, socially, financially and financially,” he said, speaking to national television TF1 and France 2 on Tuesday evening. “If the motion of no confidence is passed, everything will be more difficult, everything will be more dangerous.”
On Wednesday morning, National Rally leader Jordan Bardella – whose party’s good faith was crucial to keeping Barnier in power – reaffirmed his support for the proposal, calling the budget “flawed and harmful” to the French people. Left leaders have echoed similar criticisms, demanding more aggressive social spending.
The National Assembly said that passing the motion of no confidence requires at least 288 votes out of 574 votes. The left and far-right number more than 330 lawmakers – though some may abstain from voting.
If Barnier’s government falls, Macron must appoint a new prime minister, but the fragmented parliament remains unchanged. New legislative elections cannot be held until at least July, which could create potential gridlock for policymakers.
Although France is not at risk of a government shutdown similar to what happened in the United States, political instability could spook financial markets. Barnier warned last week of a “major storm and very serious disruptions in the financial markets” if his government is overthrown.
France is under pressure from the European Union to reduce its massive debt. The country’s deficit is expected to reach 6% of GDP this year, and analysts say it may rise to 7% next year without radical adjustments. Political instability could cause French interest rates to rise, increasing debt further.
& Edition 2024 The Canadian Press
