The opposition in France overthrows the government

2024-12-05 09:33:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

In France, after less than three months in power, the center-right government under Prime Minister Barnier falls. The political impasse that threatens France may also have consequences for Europe.

With a vote of no confidence, the opposition in France overthrew the center-right government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Right-wing nationalists around Marine Le Pen and the left camp voted jointly against the government, which failed to secure the necessary majority of votes in the Parliamentary Assembly. A total of 331 out of 577 MPs did not give their vote of confidence to the government. Barnier must submit his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron.

How will it continue after the vote of no confidence?

A deadlock has been created in the country, as the fall of the government plunges France into a deep political crisis. New parliamentary elections could be held in the summer of 2025. The ratios of political forces remain unchanged, which creates a stalemate. Neither the left-wing camp, which won the parliamentary elections this summer, nor Macron's centrist forces, nor Marine Le Pen's right-wing nationalists with their allies have a sufficient majority to govern. Forming a government will again be difficult. It is unlikely to be enough in the end for more than a minority government.

Macron under pressure

After Germany, even the second pillar of the important German-French engine in Europe risks temporarily falling into a political stalemate, and it will have to deal mainly with its own internal political problems. Macron's mandate is not affected by the vote of no confidence. As president, he appoints the prime minister. After the presidential elections he was strongly committed to the creation of the government and now he will have to deal with this issue again. But the fall of the government also damages it. The head of state appointed Barnier as prime minister after long consultations, his centrist forces co-govern. The opposition may now try, due to complicated political relations, to push for early presidential elections. So far Macron has repeatedly rejected this. His term ends in 2027.

Why is France in a political crisis?

The reason for the political crisis was the quarrel over the budget. France has a high quota of new debts, which Barnier intended to bring under control. His draft budget predicted that the budget deficit would be reduced from six percent currently to five percent next year. For this, taxes had to be increased and spending cut in the volume of almost 60 billion euros. Both the right and the left opposed the planned cuts. Barnier's government will go down in the history of France as the shortest government./ DW