The government of Michel Barnier has fallen: the deputies of the left and the National Rally jointly adopted this Wednesday a motion of censure in the Assembly, only the second in the history of the Fifth Republic, opening a period of strong political uncertainties and financial.
The President of the National Assembly Yaël Braun Pivet announced that 331 deputies voted for the motion tabled by the left (while 288 votes were necessary) in response to Michel Barnier’s 49.3 to pass the draft Security budget without a vote social.
Just three months after his appointment, in accordance with the Constitution, Michel Barnier must immediately submit his resignation to Emmanuel Macron, who has just returned from a state visit to Saudi Arabia.
For his last words as Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, 73, called each deputy to “responsibility” in a “moment of truth”. “It is not for pleasure that I have presented almost only difficult measures”the “reality” budgetary “will not disappear by the enchantment of a motion of censure”he declared, visibly resigned, in front of a hemicycle which had become serious again after moments of agitation.
In defense of the motion of censure, Eric Coquerel (LFI) criticized the“illegitimacy” of a government not reflecting the results of the legislative elections, and refusing to reverse pension reform. Boris Vallaud, boss of PS deputies, accusing Michel Barnier of having “locked in a humiliating tête-à-tête” with the leader of the RN Marine Le Pen. Despite the numerous concessions obtained in the home stretch, the leader of the far-right group criticized the policy proposed by the Prime Minister: “you only gave one answer, tax (…) the worst policy would be not to censor such a budget.”
A “comedy of unbearable lightness”
Conversely, the government’s supporters took aim at the censorious deputies. “Who are you going to condemn? France”, attacked Gabriel Attal, boss of Macronist deputies. Laurent Wauquiez, leader of the Les Républicains (LR) group, launched a “comedy of unbearable lightness” and accused Marine Le Pen of “choose chaos”.
If Emmanuel Macron called for “don’t be afraid” by evoking a risk of financial crisis, Michel Barnier did not hesitate to dramatize the issue. Expected at 6.1% of GDP in 2024, much higher than the 4.4% forecast for fall 2023, the public deficit would miss its target of 5% in the absence of a budget, and political uncertainty would weigh on the cost of debt and growth.
Despite these warnings, Michel Barnier will leave Matignon, 62 years after the only precedent under the Fifth Republic, the censorship of Georges Pompidou then Prime Minister under General de Gaulle. The eyes that had turned away from the Élysée will now focus on Emmanuel Macron. The head of state could choose “quickly” a Prime Minister, according to all his interlocutors. An unusual eagerness which aims to limit the uncertainty weighing on minds and the markets.
An appointment before the ceremony with great pomp for the reopening of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral on Saturday is “possible”estimates a relative. But “nothing has been done”, assures the presidential entourage. And the Matignon equation still seems as complex, with the impossibility of a dissolution and new legislative elections before seven months.
Emmanuel Macron must go
After the fall of Michel Barnier’s government, rebellious France, through the voice of the group’s president in the Assembly Mathilde Panot, once again demanded “it’s up to Emmanuel Macron to leave”, claimant “early presidential elections”.
“The inevitable censorship has taken place. Even with a Barnier every three months, Macron will not last three years”added, on the social network X, the leader of LFI Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
France Michel Barnier French government politics
