This afternoon at 17:00 (Greece time) the French National Assembly will begin the debate on the two motions of censure against the central government, which were submitted on Monday by the far-right party National Rally (RN) and the coalition of left parties, New Popular Front (NFP).
For different reasons, the French far-right and the coalition of the French Left are attacking the government backed by President Macron, voicing their disagreements over the 2025 budget. The budget aims to reduce France’s huge debt and budget deficit through tax increases and spending cuts.
But because (out of a total of 577) the budget was not going to be approved. Barnier knew this, and for that, on Monday afternoon, he made use of Article 49.3 of the French constitution which gives the prime minister the ability to pass a bill in the absence of Parliament.
The French constitution, however, provides that in this case, the opposition has the right to submit a motion of impeachment against the government, within 24 hours of the activation of the disputed article.
The fall of Barnier and the role of Macron
Everything points to the fact that the Barnier government will fall. The coalition of the Left has said that it will not vote for the motion of censure of the Far Right, but the Far Right has no problem voting for the motion of censure of the coalition of the Left. Scenarios upon scenarios have been floated about what comes next: a government to handle current affairs until the summer, when France can constitutionally go to parliamentary elections again? A technocratic government?
Monde wrote on Tuesday that the French president is already looking for a prime minister. Macron is expected in Paris today from Saudi Arabia, where he paid an official visit on Monday, while its prime minister triggered Article 49.3. What is not expected is for Macron to find a solution to the explosive situation he created with his decision, after his party’s defeat in last June’s European elections, to call early parliamentary elections on July 7, which resulted in a fragmented National Assembly . Whatever Macron had in mind by announcing early elections, it is certain that it neither benefited, nor does it benefit, France. And because the .
