The French government, led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier, is facing imminent collapse following announcements from both far-right and left-wing parties that they will support a no-confidence motion against him. This political turmoil comes after Barnier’s attempt to push through a controversial social security bill without a parliamentary vote failed to garner enough support, even from the far-right National Rally (RN).
Opposition Unites Against Barnier
RN leader Marine Le Pen declared that her party would introduce its own no-confidence motion while also backing similar motions from other parties. “The French have had enough,” Le Pen stated. “Maybe they thought with Michel Barnier things would get better, but they were even worse.”
Mathilde Panot, a member of the hard-left France Unbowed, echoed these sentiments, stating, “Faced with this umpteenth denial of democracy, we will censure the government… We are living in political chaos because of Michel Barnier’s government and Emmanuel Macron’s presidency.”
If all RN lawmakers join forces with the left to vote against Barnier, it is likely that his government will not survive. The opposition has a 24-hour window to submit the no-confidence motion, with the vote potentially taking place as early as Wednesday. Notably, no French government has been ousted by such a vote since 1962.
Budget Struggles and Political Instability
Barnier’s challenges in navigating the 2025 budget through a fractured parliament threaten to plunge France into its second political crisis in six months, highlighting the growing instability that has gripped several EU countries. The budget bill aims to address France’s escalating public deficit through 60 billion euros ($63 billion) in tax increases and spending cuts, a move that could jeopardize the fragile support from the RN that Barnier’s minority government has relied upon since its establishment in September.
In a last-ditch effort to rally support, Barnier urged lawmakers to reject the no-confidence vote. “We are at a moment of truth,” he told parliament, emphasizing the need to prioritize the country’s future over individual interests. The coming days will be crucial in determining the fate of Barnier’s government and the direction of French politics.
