French Prime Minister Barnier's Budget Proposal Faces Threat of Government Collapse

paris - French Prime Minister Michel Barnier invoked a constitutional article to push through a budget proposal without a vote in parliament, risking a motion of no confidence that could topple the government.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier has used a constitutional provision to secure approval for a budget proposal in parliament without a vote. This move has raised the specter of a motion of no confidence that could lead to the fall of the government, which lacks a majority in parliament.

Now, the parliament can only block the legislation by dismissing the government, a move that is expected. The left-radical New People's Front has already announced plans to file a motion of no confidence if the prime minister tries to push through his legislation in this manner.

The leader of the right-radical Rassemblement National (RN), Marine Le Pen, has threatened to support that motion as well. She demands that Barnier modify the proposed pension reforms, and if he does not, the RN will withdraw support for President Emmanuel Macron's government and Prime Minister Barnier.

Barnier made a concession on Monday toward Le Pen by withdrawing planned cuts to medicine reimbursements. Last week, he removed a proposed increase in electricity prices from the 2025 budget draft. He hopes that the RN will refrain from backing the motion of no confidence threatened by the People's Front. However, for Le Pen, Barnier's current concessions are insufficient.