Macron’s government on brink of collapse after forcing budget past parliament
Michel Barnier pushes austerity measures through via presidential decree, prompting opposition parties to file motions of no confidence
The French government is on the brink of collapse after France’s hard-Right and Left-wing parties filed motions of no confidence against Michel Barnier, the prime minister.
Their move came after Mr Barnier said on Monday that he would force through a controversial new social security budget without a parliamentary vote by invoking presidential decree, having failed to win enough support for the bill.
The Left-wing La France Insoumise party responded by filing a motion of no confidence on behalf of the New Popular Front.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the hard-Right RN, announced that her party would also file its own motion, but said it would also vote for any similar bill put forward by other parties. “The French have had enough,” she said. “Maybe they thought with Michel Barnier things would get better, but they are even worse.”
The motions of censure will be subject to votes in the National Assembly within 48 hours, and are likely to be held on Wednesday. Should all RN lawmakers vote with the Left to topple Mr Barnier, the government will not survive.
