Censorship: “Those who are going to vote for it are playing the destiny of the French at Russian roulette,” believes Bruno Retailleau – Press

Less than six months after the massive blow of dissolution, the National Assembly is preparing to censure the government of Michel Barnier, a gesture unprecedented since 1962 which would plunge the country into great political and budgetary uncertainty. Two motions of censure, tabled by the New Popular Front and the alliance between the National Rally (RN) and the Ciottists, will be examined in the Assembly from 4 p.m.

Emmanuel Macron “does not believe in the vote of censorship”

The motion tabled by the left has every chance of being adopted, the RN having promised to vote for it. “Those who are going to vote on the motion of censure are playing Russian roulette with the destiny of France and the French,” said Bruno Retailleau, Minister of the Interior, guest of La Grande interview Europe 1-CNews on Wednesday.

On a state visit to Riyadh, Emmanuel Macron spoke of “political fiction” and said he “does not believe in the vote of censorship”, pointing to an “unbearable cynicism” of the RN if he added his votes to those of the NFP which vilifies the Lepenists in its motion. The head of state also dismissed the hypothesis of his resignation in the event of censorship by the Barnier government.

“The financial markets will be scared”

The Prime Minister, guest of TF1 and France 2 on Tuesday evening, for his part, stressed that each MP had “a share of responsibility”, hoping that “the best interests of the country” prevail. Bruno Retailleau particularly said he was worried about seeing the financial markets collapse. “We have an astronomical debt and the majority of the debt is not held by the French but by American and Japanese pension funds… [Si la censure est votée]the financial markets will be scared,” he said on Europe 1, fearing an increase in rates.

The situation “could be much worse” said the Minister of the Interior. “We are going to borrow 300 billion next year to pay part of this debt and state spending, it's enormous! In 2027, the entire income tax of the French will only be used to pay off the interest on the debt and if interest rates increase, as was the case in Spain, you will have a purchasing power problem,” he concluded.

These two motions were tabled on Monday following the Prime Minister's triggering of article 49.3 of the Constitution, to have the Social Security financing bill adopted without a vote.