Marine Le Pen believes that Michel Barnier remains “stuck in his positions”, the National Rally ready to vote for censorship of the government

Following an interview with Michel Barnier, Monday November 25, Marine Le Pen declared that the Prime Minister was “appeared stuck on its positions”confirming the intention of the National Rally (RN) to vote for censure of the government if the budget remained “as is”. “My position has not changed. No more, it seems, than that of the Prime Minister has evolved”she said as she left Matignon.

The leader of the RN deputies “repeated his red lines” to the Prime Minister, who “appeared at the same time courteous and firm in his positions”. She ruled in particular that “the increase in taxes on electricity was unacceptable”just like the deindexation of pensions, even reduced by half. She denounced “the reimbursement of medicines” and also demanded “clear savings” on immigration, in particular the state medical aid budget, as well as “the functioning of the State”.

Host this week of the heads of parliamentary groups, the Prime Minister opened his consultations with M^me Le Pen Monday morning in Matignon, before a busy week for the government. On Tuesday, the National Assembly will debate and vote on the free trade treaty with Mercosur, against a backdrop of farmers' anger. Ministers Annie Genevard and Sophie Primas will speak for the government. And on Thursday, a tense debate is expected in the hemicycle as part of a « niche » of La France insoumise (LFI) on the repeal of the pension reform of the government of Elisabeth Borne, adopted in 2023.

But it is on the budgetary level that the clouds are gathering over Matignon, the prospect of a triggering of article 49.3 fast approaching. Lack of majority in the Assembly where, unlike M^me Borne, he preferred to let the debates take place, Michel Barnier will use ” probably ” in the coming weeks this constitutional weapon, which allows the adoption of a text without a vote, unless a motion of censure overthrows the government. Which would suppose that the RN adds its votes to a motion tabled by the left.

53% of French people in favor of a motion of censure

This “coalition of opposites”, “I know that this is not what the French want, who today want stability, serenity”the Prime Minister said on Thursday. Like Emmanuel Macron, who, from Argentina where he is traveling, also said he would like “stability”. But, according to an Ipsos survey for La Tribune Sunday53% of French people want to see the government fall. And Michel Barnier's rating falls in another IFOP poll for The Sunday Journalat 36%, compared to 45% when he was appointed at the beginning of September.

What happens if the budget and government are overturned? In The Parisiangovernment spokesperson Maud Bregeon warns against “a Greek scenario” by evoking the risk of financial crisis. “There is no responsible person in the country who could wish for the fall of a government that was appointed two months ago”agrees François Bayrou on BFM-TV. “If there was censorship, there would be a regime crisis”estimates Agnès Evren (Les Républicains, LR) on France 3.

M^me Le Pen downplayed the consequences of rejecting the budget Monday morning, refusing to give in “to the little music consisting of saying [que] if this budget is ever refused, if there is censorship, it will be dramatic, it will be chaos, etc. ». “It is last year’s budget that will apply. It is rather less bad than this one since there are fewer taxes that will weigh on the working classes and the middle classes”she judged.

“We must not scare the French for nothing”had also estimated the vice-president of the RN, Sébastien Chenu, referring to the adoption of a “special law” budget in the event of censorship. “The President of the Republic has several possibilities: reappoint the same prime minister, reappoint a new prime minister, resign if he no longer has any other solution, trigger a referendum”listed the deputy from the North.