French Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, will face a vote of no confidence this week – the second time he has faced being forced out of office, since becoming PM in September this year.
Mr Barnier took the « nuclear option » by forcing through his controversial Budget without a vote in the National Assembly on Monday afternoon, after legislators from rival parties warned they would not pass it.
The 73-year-old used Article 49.3 of the French constitution to get his spending reduction plan through. But using that tool allowed members of the National Assembly to order a motion of censure. If Mr Barnier loses that vote, the Government will be brought down.
Left-wing party La France Insoumise has announced it has now officially called for a vote of no confidence on behalf of the New Popular Front parliamentary group.
Marine Le Pen of the hard right National Rally said earlier today her party would also call for a motion of censure separately.
Mr Barnier’s chief role as PM was to pass a budget that would rescue the French economy.
SinceCovid, the country’s deficit to GDP ratio has skyrocketed. BelowEuropean Unionrules, the deficit cannot exceed three percent of GDP. However, in 2023, France’s ratio hit 5.5 percent, and is forecast to be 6.2 percent this year.
To get the ratio below three percent, Mr Barnier’s budget included deep cuts to public spending totaling £33bn (€40bn), and steep tax rises amounting to £16bn (€20bn).
The New Popular Front, the largest bloc in the Assembly, and the National Rally, the third largest, both rejected Mr Barnier’s proposals.
And despite watering them down to appease Le Pen’s party, he still did not command the support of the chamber. As a result, he took the decision to force the measures through without a vote.
Revealing that her party would bring a motion of censure, Ms Le Pen said: « The French are fed up with being threatened and mistreated (…) We cannot leave the situation as it is ».
The vote is expected to take place on Wednesday, as the French constitution states that a vote of no confidence can only happen 48 hours after it is officially called for.
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