French Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Monday pushed through his social security budget without a vote in the National Assembly, making use of executive powers in a move likely to prompt a vote of no confidence in his minority government.
Barnier had earlier made concessions to the far-right National Rally (RN) in an attempt to stave off a confidence vote in the lower house that could bring down his government. Referring to the likely confidence vote, Barnier said: “I really believe that the French would not forgive us for preferring individual interests over the future of the nation.” The opposition parties now have 24 hours to submit a motion of no confidence.
Speaking recently on French television, Barnier said that France’s national debt of €3.228 trillion ($3.38 trillion) demanded an austerity budget. His centre-right government would for that reason make cuts to the budget and impose measures to increase revenue, he said. Earlier on Monday, Barnier had agreed to omit planned cuts to reimbursements for medications - a point of contention with Marine Le Pen, leader of the RN in the National Assembly.
