Michel Barnier’s government could be toppled over opposition to his budget-tightening plan
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France’s government on Wednesday faces no confidence votes that could spell the end of the short-lived administration of Prime Minister Michel Barnier, plunging the country into uncharted waters of political chaos.
The toppling of the Barnier government after just three months in office would present President Emmanuel Macron with an unenviable dilemma over how to go forwards and who to appoint in his place.
The National Assembly is due to debate two motions brought by the hard-left and far-right in a standoff with Barnier over the budget, which saw the premier force through the social security budget without a vote.
The far-right National Rally (RN) of three-time presidential candidate Marine Le Pen is expected to vote for the motion put forwards by the left, giving it enough numbers to pass.
Asked on French television if there was a chance his government could survive Wednesday’s vote, Barnier replied: “I want this and it is possible. It depends on the MPs…
“I think it is possible that there is this reflex of responsibility where — beyond political differences, divergences, the normal contradictions in a democracy — we tell ourselves that there is a higher interest,” he said.
But most analysts believe the government is doomed with the far-right teaming up with the left in an unholy alliance.
The turmoil follows snap elections called by Macron in the summer which aimed, without success, to halt the march of the far right, and left no party or faction in parliament with a majority.
Barnier took office with the far right under Le Pen holding a sword of Damocles over its head, with the ability to topple the administration.
No new elections can be called for a year after the previous legislative polls, narrowing Macron’s options. Some have even suggested the president, who is on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, could resign.
But Macron rejected calls to resign to break the political impasse, saying such a scenario amounted to “political fiction
