Michel Barnier plays the survival of his government on the budget. To avoid a motion of censure, he launched a mine-clearing operation by meeting the leaders of the opposition parliamentary groups during the week of November 25 to Friday, November 29. Everyone adopts their own strategy and state of mind, starting with Marine Le Pen, received Monday morning, who appears impatient.
According to those around her, Michel Barnier never invited her to Matignon. Marine Le Pen finds this “lunar”. Certainly, the head of the RN deputies received courteous telephone calls from the Prime Minister, and certain elected representatives of the National Rally were received in Bercy. But, as an RN deputy points out, “having tea with a minister is not parliamentary negotiations”. This same deputy almost regrets Bruno Le Maire. “The fact that this interview is happening now says a lot…” comments a party executive, who describes a Prime Minister in dire straits, forced to negotiate with the RN to avoid censorship.
Marine Le Pen arrives Monday morning in a position of strength, with her “red lines” : don’t touch the wallets of the middle and working classes. Its first demand remains not to increase taxes on electricity. “A not illegitimate request”admits a member of the government, while warning about the cost of this measure. “In any case, the RN will not censor on a substantive issue, but on tactics,” believes a minister.
Mathilde Panot takes the stage on Monday too
Determined, the head of the rebellious deputies will go to Matignon a little later on Monday to tell Michel Barnier that a completely different budget is possible. Mathilde Panot defends a software change, well beyond simple “red lines”. “I don’t believe a compromise can be found,” she slips. A dialogue of the deaf is coming. Mathilde Panot considers that “this government is illegitimate” and is preparing to vote for censure, whatever happens.
On Wednesday, Michel Barnier will meet the Socialists, another group whose votes could avoid censorship. The leader of the PS deputies, Boris Vallaud, officially defends a budget close to that carried by Mathilde Panot. However, its tone differs. He speaks of a “spirit of responsibility”. “Michel Barnier said he was a man of compromise and dialogue”, recalls Boris Vallaud.
These words raise some hope within the government. “The responsibility of socialists is immense”, insists the spokesperson. On Sunday, however, Boris Vallaud’s entourage tempered this optimism. “The doors to dialogue are open, but they should be very, very widely. We are not going to buy our votes with minimal concessions,” summarizes a socialist deputy.
