The French government is teetering on the edge of collapse as far-right and left-wing parties submitted no-confidence motions against Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Monday. This development sets the stage for Barnier's coalition to become the first French government to be ousted by a no-confidence vote since 1962.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally (RN), declared, \"The French have had enough,\" criticizing Barnier for worsening the political climate since his appointment in early September. Her party, along with the left-wing coalition, has secured enough votes to potentially topple the government in a vote scheduled for Wednesday.
The imminent government collapse could create a significant void in European politics, especially with Germany approaching its elections and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump set to take office shortly. Barnier's minority government had depended on RN's support to remain in power, a fragile alliance that unraveled over a contentious social security bill.
The proposed budget aims to address France's escalating public deficit through approximately 60 billion euros in tax increases and spending cuts. Barnier's attempt to bypass a parliamentary vote in favor of the bill ultimately failed to secure the necessary backing from the RN, prompting the opposition from both the right and left.
Mathilde Panot of the left-wing France Unbowed stated, \"We are living in political chaos because of Michel Barnier's government and Emmanuel Macron's presidency.\" Barnier has urged lawmakers to reject the no-confidence vote, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the country's future over individual interests.
Should the vote pass, Barnier would need to resign, and President Emmanuel Macron might appoint a caretaker government composed of technocrats to manage day-to-day affairs while searching for a new prime minister. Another possibility is that the caretaker government could propose emergency legislation to maintain current spending and tax policies, though this would likely shelve Barber's planned savings measures.
The political uncertainty highlights the fragile nature of Barnier's coalition and raises questions about France's economic and political direction in the coming months.
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French government faces collapse as no-confidence motions submitted
cgtn.com
