A crucial week awaits for Michel Barnier. From Monday 25 November, the Prime Minister will receive the various leaders of the left-wing and far-right parliamentary opposition groups who are threatening to censure him. And the reception dance begins at 8.30 with Marine Le Pen who, after the indictments in the trial against her assistants in the European Parliament, raised her voice against the government.
For the former presidential candidate, the equation is simple: the threat to bring down the government will only be implemented if the purchasing power of the French is a victim of the 2025 budget project.
In addition to this red line, the leader of the deputies of the National Rally also expects the Prime Minister to respect his commitment. The latter had announced that opposition groups would be able to recognize in his budget elements that seemed essential to them. “We, our elements, have given them: not to increase taxes on private individuals, not to increase taxes on entrepreneurs, not to make pensioners pay, to achieve structural savings on state operating expenses”, he said on RTL.
Barnier “creates conditions for censorship”
If the vote on a censure motion has not yet been decided within the ranks of the RN, it could still take the road. “To this day, Michel Barnier creates the conditions for censorship,” assures Sébastien Chenu to LCI.
The vice president of the National Rally does not seem convinced of the Matignon tenant’s strategy. “We don’t buy political opponents with garbage. It is not by deleting two or three marginal trifles that Michel Barnier will change the logic of his budget”, he blurted out. For him, the RN asks for one thing: a political break with Emmanuel Macron’s line. “It was not Michel Barnier who started this rupture. And its budget shows it,” he continued.
READ ALSO Will he censor or not censor? The issue that panics the leaders of the StateBecause the points of disagreement are numerous, according to him: “pensions”, “the seven days of free work”, “the increase in electricity”, “the increase in France’s contribution to the European Union”, “the car fine”, “the increase in notary fees” or the absence of savings on the “state millefeuille” and on “immigration”, listed Sébastien Chenu. “Nothing was held back,” he snapped.
However, he wanted to be reassuring. “We shouldn’t scare the French at all,” he replied to Maud Bregeon, government spokeswoman, who envisaged a “Greek-style scenario” in the event of budget censorship. “If there is no budget, the National Assembly, and the RN, assuming their responsibilities, will vote on what is called a special law that allows public employees to be paid and to guarantee that the economy runs until the next budget, obviously, that what we call in English does not exist “stop“, he said.
A week of meetings
The challenge therefore promises to be significant for Michel Barnier, who this Monday will also receive Mathilde Panot, leader of the rebel deputies, as well as Stéphane Séjourné, president of the Liot group (Libertés, independents, Overseas and Territories) and Éric Ciotti, ally of the RN and president of UDR group (Union of Rights for the Republic).
Like every week, on Tuesday morning the Prime Minister will meet the group leaders of his right-wing and center-right government.
On Wednesday afternoon the prime minister will meet the leaders of the socialist groups, Boris Vallaud in the Assembly and Patrick Kanner in the Senate, and the environmentalists, Cyrielle Chatelain in the Assembly and Guillaume Gontard in the Senate. on Thursday morning, he will receive those of the Communist Party, André Chassaigne for the Assembly and Cécile Cukierman for the Senate.
How could a successful censure motion impact the political landscape in France?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Political Expert
Editor: Welcome to Time.news. Today, we have the pleasure of discussing the current political climate in France with renowned political expert, Dr. Claire Duval. Dr. Duval, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Duval: Thank you for having me. It’s a critical time for French politics, and I’m eager to delve into the ongoing debates.
Editor: Indeed! As we prepare for a crucial week starting November 25th, Prime Minister Michel Barnier is set to meet with various leaders from the left-wing and far-right opposition who are threatening to censure him. Can you provide some background on what is driving this political tension?
Dr. Duval: Absolutely. The opposition, particularly figures like Marine Le Pen, is leveraging public sentiment around the government’s budget for 2025. They argue that if the budget negatively impacts the purchasing power of average French citizens, it will cross a significant line, justifying their attempts to censure the government.
Editor: That makes sense. Marine Le Pen has been quite vocal recently, especially after legal challenges surrounding her assistants in the European Parliament. How does her involvement influence the stakes here?
Dr. Duval: Le Pen’s heightened rhetoric not only galvanizes her base but also positions the National Rally as a formidable opposition. By framing the budget as a threat to purchasing power, she’s capitalizing on concerns many citizens share, which can significantly sway public opinion and mobilize her supporters.
Editor: You mentioned public sentiment. In your view, what specific elements are Le Pen and her party looking to influence in Barnier’s budget?
Dr. Duval: Key issues include avoiding tax increases on individuals and businesses, ensuring pensions are not adversely affected, and achieving structural savings on state expenses. These are non-negotiable points for Le Pen if she’s to consider supporting the government. The clock is ticking for Barnier to address these concerns.
Editor: And what about the internal dynamics within the National Rally? Sebastien Chenu, the vice president, has been quoted expressing skepticism about Barnier’s strategy. What are the implications of this discontent?
Dr. Duval: Chenu’s remarks highlight a fracture within the opposition about how to confront Barnier’s administration. If they cannot present a united front, it might weaken their bargaining position. Chenu’s assertion that Barnier is creating conditions for censorship suggests that the National Rally is assessing whether to proceed with punitive measures based on the budget.
Editor: So, there seems to be a real push-pull approach among the opposition. With these discussions on the rise, do you think we will see a formal censure motion?
Dr. Duval: It’s very plausible. If Barnier continues to disregard their demands and the budget does indeed fall short of expectations, the National Rally may decide that censure is the only viable path forward. It’s not just about the numbers in the budget; it’s about the broader political narrative and sentiment they want to shape.
Editor: What would a successful censure ultimately mean for Barnier and his government?
Dr. Duval: A successful censure could lead to a government shake-up or even new elections, which would significantly alter France’s political landscape. It would indicate a loss of confidence not only in Barnier but in the broader Macron administration, leading to uncertainty in policy direction and governance.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Duval, for your insights. It’s clear that the coming week will be crucial for Michel Barnier and the French government, as the interplay between budget priorities and political maneuvering intensifies.
Dr. Duval: It certainly will. Thank you for having me; I look forward to seeing how this unfolds.
Editor: And thank you to our audience for tuning in to Time.news. Stay tuned for further updates as we continue to monitor this developing story in French politics.
