The government of French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is once again vulnerable following a new warning from Marine Le Pen that she could support a no-confidence motion to oust him.
The leader of France’s right-wing met with Barnier as part of his consultations with party leaders to secure support for the budget, amid speculation that the minority government might attempt to pass the bill without a vote by invoking a constitutional clause.
The left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front (NFP), has already threatened to file a no-confidence motion if Barnier uses the measure known as Article 49.3 to push through the 2025 budget.
“Nothing is Certain”
After her meeting with Barnier, Le Pen stated that she reminded him of the “red lines” of her National Rally (RN) party, which opposes electricity tax increases and delays in certain pension raises to address inflation.
“We will see if today’s proposals are taken into account, but nothing is certain,” Le Pen said.
According to BFMTV, the National Rally is set to decide whether to file a no-confidence motion on December 18. Should they decide to proceed, it remains uncertain whether Barnier could retain his position.
Government Collapse and the “Coalition of Opposites”
If MPs from the left-wing coalition and Le Pen’s right-wing party vote in favor of the motion, it would pass, resulting in the fall of the government.
For his part, Barnier has described any alliance to topple the government as a “coalition of opposites.” Speaking at a conference with French mayors last week, he said: “I know this is not what the French people want. What they want is stability and calm.”
Threats of Overthrow
Last week, leaders of the NFP coalition parties, including La France Insoumise (LFI), the Socialists (PS), the French Communist Party (PCF), and the Greens, issued a statement vowing to bring down the government if Article 49.3 was used.
“Our goal is simple: to protect our fellow citizens from the consequences of a budget that will not pave the way for a new future for the country but will prolong social division, ecological irresponsibility, and democratic barbarism,” they wrote.
