French govt faces collapse after opposition says will vote no-confidence

Published
0
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier announces the use of a special clause in the French Constitution to push a budget bill through the National Assembly without a vote by lawmakers, during a debate at the National Assembly in Paris, France on December 2. — Reuters
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier announces the use of a special clause in the French Constitution to push a budget bill through the National Assembly without a vote by lawmakers, during a debate at the National Assembly in Paris, France on December 2. — Reuters

The French government is all but certain to collapse later this week after far-right and left-wing parties said they will vote for a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Michel Barnier.

Their move came after Barnier said he would try to ram a social security bill through parliament without a vote as a last-minute concession was not enough to win support for the bill from the far-right National Rally (RN).

RN leader Marine Le Pen said her party would table its own no-confidence motion but would also vote for any similar bill by other parties. “The French have had enough,” she said. “Maybe they thought with Michel Barnier things would get better, but they were even worse.”

Mathilde Panot, of the hard-left France Unbowed, said: “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.”

Should all RN lawmakers vote with the left to topple Barnier, the government will not survive. The opposition now has 24 hours to put forward a no-confidence motion. The vote could take place as early as Wednesday.

No French government has been forced out by such a vote since 1962.

Barnier’s struggles to get the 2025 budget through a deeply divided parliament threaten to plunge France into its second political crisis in six months, underlining the instability that has taken hold in countries across the EU. He urged lawmakers not to back the no-confidence vote.

“We are at a moment of truth,” Barnier told parliament as he put his government’s fate in its hands. “The French will not forgive us for putting the interests of individuals before the future of the country.”

Since its constitution in September, Barnier’s minority government has relied on RN support for its survival. The budget bill, which seeks to rein in France’s spiralling public deficit through €60 billion ($63bn) in tax hikes and spending cuts, may snap that tenuous link.

Opinion

Editorial

Referendum talk
Updated 14 Nov, 2026

Referendum talk

Unless the PPP is deliberately using Sindh as a bargaining chip, it should issue a clarification with a clear, consistent position on new administrative units, not one tailored to protect its home turf.
Mineral wealth
Updated 14 Nov, 2026

Mineral wealth

Minerals should not be presented as a solution to Pakistan’s long-term economic difficulties. The aim should be to build an industrial base rather than export raw materials.
Late diagnosis
14 Nov, 2026

Late diagnosis

AS we mark World Diabetes Day today, Pakistan faces a troubling question: how many people are living with diabetes...
Climate challenges
Updated 13 Nov, 2026

Climate challenges

Pakistan cannot afford to confront its climate crises one disaster, one season and one international summit at a time.
Under fire
Updated 13 Nov, 2026

Under fire

KP police are increasingly vulnerable as they play a frontline role in ongoing operations against terrorists.
Used car imports
13 Nov, 2026

Used car imports

THE government’s effort to restrict used car imports appears to be faltering. So suggest the numbers. Despite...