On Monday, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier used his power to push through a bill on the social security budget without a vote in parliament. He said it was necessary to ensure stability at a time of deep political divisions. TASR informs about it according to the reports of the AFP and AP agencies.
“It is now up to you to decide whether our country will have a financial law that is responsible, necessary and useful for our French compatriots, or whether we will enter uncharted territory,” the prime minister told MPs in parliament.
Far-right National Association (RN) member of parliament Marine Le Pen gave Barnier an ultimatum by Monday afternoon to comply with the demands and comments of the RN in the draft social security budget. If he doesn’t, RN MPs will support a motion of no confidence in his government, which would lead to its downfall.
Mathilde Panotová, chairwoman of the Unyielding France (LFI) parliamentary club, also responded that her party will file a motion of no confidence in the government. “On Wednesday, he will receive both, a disgrace and a vote of no confidence,” Panot said. She added that the move would allow France to get out of “political impasse and political chaos.”
Criticism of the opposition
French President Emmanuel Macron appointed Barnier in September to break the post-election deadlock and try to tackle a growing budget deficit. However, the government’s austerity budget proposal was criticized, which escalated the tension in the lower house of the parliament. Opposition leaders say Barnier’s concessions, including the cancellation of the electricity tax hike, are not enough. Le Pen accused Bernier of ignoring her party’s demands.
On Monday, Barnier invoked constitutional article 49.3, which allows the government to adopt legislation without a vote of MPs. However, the government must submit to a vote of no confidence.
For Barnier’s government to survive this vote, RN MPs must abstain. If Barnier’s government were to fall as a result of the parliamentary vote, it would become the shortest in power in the history of the French Fifth Republic. At the same time, it would be the first successful vote of no confidence since the failure of Georges Pompidou in 1962.
