Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), has defended her decision to back a no-confidence motion to oust Michel Barnier as Prime Minister over the budget.
Barnier’s budget, which seeks to reduce France’s spiralling public deficit through €60bn ($62.9bn; £49.6bn) in tax hikes and spending cuts, has been opposed by politicians on both the left and far right.
He used special powers to force the belt-tightening social security budget through the lower house of parliament without a final vote after a last-minute concession was not enough to win over the far-right National Rally (RN), led by Marine Le Pen.
Barnier’s minority government had relied on RN support for its survival.
Over the weekend, Le Pen demanded that Barnier make further budget concessions to avoid a no confidence motion. Barnier had already dropped a planned electricity tax increase, but the RN also wanted him to raise pensions in line with inflation.
Barnier made some concessions but not enough, in the eyes of Le Pen, who accused the former Brexit negotiator of not keeping his promise to listen to political groups opposed to the budget bill.
In a post on X, Le Pen said, “Let’s be clear: a motion of censure is not a coalition or a political agreement, it is nothing other than the expression of a disavowal of the policy and budgetary choices proposed by the Government.”
“The only alliance that was formed and that plunged France into chaos was that of the two-round legislative elections, where the Macronists and the far left, hand in hand, withdrew in 210 constituencies to block the National Rally.”
Marine Le Pen
Also, Le Pen said that backing a no-confidence motion to oust Barnier as Prime Minister is the only constitutional way to protect the French public.
“In all the most outlandish and ridiculous explanations heard this morning in the media about the reasons that push us to choose censorship, one is missing.
“Precisely, the one and only one that guided our choice: censoring this budget is, unfortunately, the only way the constitution gives us to protect the French from a dangerous, unjust and punitive budget which, moreover, worsens the already monstrous deficits of seven years of Macronism.”
Marine Le Pen
Together, the New Popular Front (NFP), a leftwing coalition and the RN have enough MPs to topple the government.
French media reported that the parliament discussion of the no-confidence vote would begin on Wednesday, December 3, 2024, at 4pm, with MPs voting in the evening.
If MPs from the far-right and the left alliance all back the no-confidence vote, this means the French government could fall as early as tomorrow night.
Michel Barnier would become the shortest-serving Prime Minister of France’s Fifth Republic, at only three months in office.
Liot Parliamentary Group To Vote Against Censure Motion
The Libertés, indépendants, outre-mer et territoires (Liberties, Independents, Overseas and Territories, Liot) group, which has about two dozen elected members, will not vote for Wednesday’s censure motion, that is, the no confidence motion over the budget.
Harold Huwart, the MP for Eure-et-Loir and spokesperson for the parliamentary group, was quoted as saying, “At this stage, none of the Liot MPs intend to vote for censure tomorrow.”
“First of all, because the country is in a difficult moment, censorship is an act whose final consequences no one can measure. Voting for censorship is particularly irresponsible. None of the deputies (of Liot) want to be associated with an act of destabilisation plotted by extremes who come together in a desperate attempt.
“Everyone has the reflection of thinking about the future of the country and that of the French people.”
Harold Huwart
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