French Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces a vote of no confidence in his minority government after using special powers to push through a social security budget bill without a vote by MPs.
The government is unlikely to survive the vote, which was triggered this afternoon by the radical left France Unbowed (LFI) opposition party and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN).
It is likely to take place on Wednesday.
Despite last-minute concessions, Barnier clearly did not think he would be able to get his budget bill over the line.
The New Popular Front, an alliance of several left-wing parties, came out top against Macron’s supporters and the far right following early elections in July.
The alliance was left furious by Macron’s decision to veer to the centre right by picking Barnier as his new prime minister, and promised to vote against the government.
This has meant that Barnier has until now had to rely on the RN for his government’s survival.
The budget bill sought to rein in France’s spiralling deficit through €60bn (£49bn) in tax rises and spending cuts.
Because he lacked a majority, Barnier was forced to make concessions to critics.
These included scrapping a previously planned hike in electricity tax, as well as plans for a less generous prescription drug reimbursement policy from next year.
But the new version of the social security budget remained unacceptable to the opposition.
He used article 49.3 of the French constitution, which allows the text of a bill to be passed without a vote, to push through his 2025 budget after the RN joined the left in opposing it.
“I don’t think French people will forgive us for choosing party interests over the future of the country,” Barnier told MPs on Tuesday as he explained the reasons for his decision. “Now, everybody will need to assume their own responsibility as I have assumed mine.”
Marine Le Pen explained the RN position prior to the motion being tabled.
“Barnier didn’t listen to the 11 million voters of the RN… He said everyone should assume their own responsibility, and that’s what we will do,” she said.
Barnier has warned of the financial and political effects of unseating him, but Mathilde Panot, president of the LFI, said on Monday that “there will not be chaos once Mr Barnier and his government have gone”.
“We are now experiencing political chaos as a result of both Mr Barnier’s government and Emmanuel Macron’s presidency.”
Barnier was invited to form a government by President Emmanuel Macron in September.
RN lawmakers and the left combined have enough votes to topple Barnier.
If Barnier doesn’t survive Wednesday’s vote, he will remain in place as a caretaker prime minister until Macron announces a new government.
That could be a new majority government – unlikely given the splintering of the French parliament – or a technocratic government, to steer the country until new elections can be held next summer.
The process could take weeks, as it did after a snap general election delivered a hung parliament in summer.
Several parties are also clamouring for new presidential elections. As it stands, Macron is due to stay in post until 2027.
Meanwhile, if parliament has not adopted the budget by 20 December, the caretaker government could invoke constitutional powers to pass it by ordinance.
It could also propose emergency legislation to roll out spending limits and tax provisions from this year.