Will Michel Barnier have to leave Matignon next week, almost three months after his appointment? Tension is increasing between Parliament and the Government, as the draft Social Security budget will return to the National Assembly on Monday, December 2.
Despite the tensions within the presidential coalition, an agreement was finally reached between senators and deputies, on Wednesday afternoon, November 27, within the joint committee, behind closed doors, in which this coalition has a narrow majority.
But, deprived of a majority in the Chamber, the Prime Minister is condemned to resort for the first time, on Monday, to article 49.3 of the Constitution to approve it without a vote. By assuming his responsibility, the head of government paves the way for a motion of censure, promised by the left.
Marine Le Pen remains uncertain about her intentions during this first motion of censure, which could be examined on December 4. But, without waiting for the final stretch of the state budget, around December 18, 19 or 20, the president of the National Group (RN) group in the National Assembly could decide to add those of his deputies to the votes of the left, which which would cause the fall of the government.
If nothing transpired from Monday’s exchange in Matignon between the head of the RN and the prime minister, the latter took a step in the direction of Marine Le Pen the following day. While the member of the judges of Pas de Calais “inadmissible” the increase in taxes on electricity planned in the draft budget, Michel Barnier does not rule out “do more to preserve the purchasing power of the French”he said Tuesday night.
The government increases pressure on the PS
The former Brexit negotiator also announced a mission headed by political scientist Pascal Perrineau on proportional voting, also responding to a demand from the RN. Nothing that can move the leaders of the far-right party at this time. Anything they say is carefully scrutinized by the elected representatives of the “common base.” “They say they are going to censor, but there is always a comma out there, a codicil”observes the president of the Macronist group in the Senate, François Patriat, decidedly optimistic.
The extreme right is not the only one that holds the key to the result of the final vote. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said on Wednesday: “incredible responsibility” of the Socialists (PS) if the left presented a motion of censure. The abstention of the sixty-six deputies of the PS and related parties would save the budget. Therefore, the government increased the pressure, warning them: by voting in favor of this motion, they would plunge the country further into political instability and economic stagnation.
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