French Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s political future is in jeopardy as the National Assembly is expected to approve a no-confidence motion that would collapse the French government after Barnier on Monday activated Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to pass his social security budget bill without a vote. Photo by Mohammed Badra/EPA-EFE
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government could collapse after three months in power due to a coalition of right- and left-leaning political parties opposing a recent budget move.
The French National Assembly on Wednesday debated a motion of no confidence in Barnier’s government, which would remove Barnier as the nation’s prime minister and force President Emmanuel Macron to name a new prime minister to form a new government. Advertisement
Following the parliamentary elections, Barnier formed a minority centrist and center-right government that is outnumbered by the combined members of the leftist New Popular Front and conservative National Rally.
Those parties have enough members to successfully vote “no confidence” in Barnier’s government and cause its collapse.
Much of the current problem arose after Macron in June dissolved the National Assembly, which required a snap election to seat a new law-making body.
The resulting election seated roughly equal numbers of right, left and centrist parties, which led to the right and left political factions to band together to oppose Barnier’s centrist party and its politics.
Barnier, 73, on Monday used special powers to force through a budget with a controversial social security measure without seeking a vote of National Assembly members. Advertisement
Barnier resorted to the special powers because his centrist party lacked the votes needed to approve the social security budget without the support of either the right or left political factions in the National Assembly.
Forcing the social security measure through without a vote of the National Assembly gave the ministers the ability to challenge Barnier’s government with the no-confidence vote that currently is being debated.
The right and left opposition parties have formed an ad-hoc coalition that has a combined majority of votes that could topple Barnier’s government if the proposed no-confidence vote is approved.
The parties have a combined majority of 27 seats, which would enable the no-confidence vote to succeed with two motions of no confidence under consideration.
The debate on the no-confidence motions was scheduled at 4 p.m. local time Wednesday with a vote anticipated about three hours later.
If approved, it would be the first time since 1962 that a French government collapsed due to a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly.
A successful no-confidence vote means Macron would have to form a new government, just 90 days after he named Barnier France’s prime minister.
The respective ministers of the National Rally and New Popular Front have said they intend to support the no-confidence vote, which would remove Barnier as prime minister. Each party has submitted no-confidence motions. Advertisement
A new election to re-seat the National Assembly could not be held until June, which would make it more difficult for Macron to seat a new government before new elections can be held.
