Questions to the government at the National Assembly in Paris
(Shell paragraph 16)
Members of the opposition reaffirmed on Wednesday their intention to censure the Michel Barnier government, while the National Assembly must debate and vote later in the day on motions tabled by the New Popular Front (NFP) and the National Rally (RN ).
Although Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Tuesday considered it “possible” that his government would not be censored, barring any last-minute surprises, his executive will be the first to fall in more than 60 years, at a time when the country is striving to control its heavy budget deficit.
Jordan Bardella, president of the RN, made clear on Wednesday his intention to vote in favor of censure, regardless of the political party behind the motion. The far-right party and the left-wing NFP coalition tabled their respective motions.
“My personal interest, the words that the NFP may have towards us, frankly, that doesn't matter to us. What matters is the interest of the country, it's the interest of the French (…) We will vote censorship regardless of the political party behind it,” he said on Wednesday on France Inter.
“Yes, I will vote for this motion of censure,” also confirmed Boris Vallaud, president of the Socialist group in the National Assembly.
The PS is one of the components of the NFP, whose motion of censure will be voted on first on Wednesday evening. The left and the far right combined have enough votes to overthrow the government.
Asked whether the RN would support the motion of censure, RN deputy for Var Laure Lavalette told television channel TF1: “Without scruple. We are not in the habit of not doing what we we say.”
“EVERYTHING IS NOT GOING TO COLLAPSE
The far-right MP also brushed aside fears that government censorship could plunge the country into chaos, as political uncertainties have affected the stock and bond markets of France, the euro zone's second largest economy, in recent days. , already under pressure due to its deficit.
“There is no reason for it to be complete chaos. Don't play on fears (…) We have a strong economy. The next day, everything is not going to collapse,” he said. she declared.
Although the risk premium on French assets has increased due to political uncertainty, analysts have ruled out a stock market panic scenario.
The spread between French and German yields – a measure of the premium investors demand to hold French debt – narrowed to 84.1 basis points, after reaching 90 basis points on Monday, its highest level high since 2012.
However, for Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, the risks of censorship go beyond the financial aspect.
“France is under tension. There is a state of anger. Let us be very, very careful not to trigger chaos which would not only be economic chaos, but which would be political chaos which would even threaten civil harmony” , he said during an interview with Europe 1.
He also attacked the RN for its desire to vote in favor of the censorship filed by the left, accusing Marine Le Pen's party of bowing to Jean-Luc Mélenchon's LFI.
“It is the Melenchonization of Madame Marine Le Pen. And Marine Le Pen therefore accepts, ultimately, the political and ideological domination of the Insoumis by bringing the votes of her group,” he declared.
The impending collapse of the French government comes at a delicate time on the international scene, with Germany also weakened, and just weeks before US President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House.
(Writing by Diana Mandiá, editing by Kate Entringer)
