PARIS: France's new prime minister, Michel Barnier, on Tuesday faced a motion of no confidence brought by the left, which is set to underline the fragility of his government even while having little chance of succeeding. Barnier, a right-wing former European Union Brexit negotiator, was appointed by centrist President Emmanuel Macron to bring some stability in a potentially testy "cohabitation" across the political divide after inconclusive legislative elections earlier this summer. The veteran premier, 73, has since sought to firmly take the reins, warning that France faces financial crisis if its budget deficit is not narrowed and saying that tax rises could be in order for high earners.
Macron, whose presidential term runs until 2027, has in the last weeks taken a noticeable back seat, especially on domestic issues, while making uncharacteristically infrequent public comments. The appointment of Barnier, a patrician figure who served stints as a minister and EU commissioner, has also been a contrast for the French. They have seen three premiers who were almost unknown before their appointment come and go in the space of four years. But Barnier and his government, named last month with a conspicuously right-wing tinge, could be toppled at any moment if a no-confidence motion were passed in the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament.
The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) won the most seats of any coalition in the polls, even if the far-right National Rally (RN) emerged as the largest single party, and is still livid that Macron failed to appoint a left-winger as prime minister.
"The existence of this government, in its composition and its orientation, is a negation of the result of the legislative elections," states the motion, which is due to be put forward by Socialist Party (PS) leader Olivier Faure.
The left has also been angered by the hardline stances of the new interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, who has said there should be a referendum on immigration, although he admitted this was not possible under the constitution. "This will be the moment of truth. We will see who opposes the government and who does not," Faure said ahead of the debate, accusing the government of "turning its back" on the election results.
However, the motion put forward by the NFP—a coalition of Socialists, Communists, hard-leftists, and Greens—has little chance of succeeding. MPs from the extreme-right RN under three-time presidential candidate Marine Le Pen have made clear they will not back it on this occasion. — AFP
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