Motion of censure against the French government

France's centre-right government is under threat of being toppled by the opposition. In the dispute over an austerity budget, the left-wing alliance has tabled a motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Michel Barnier's cabinet in the National Assembly. This could be voted on in parliament from Wednesday.

Barnier's government does not have an absolute majority in the National Assembly. It was initially tolerated by the right-wing nationalists around Marine Le Pen. However, they are now threatening to withdraw their confidence in the government - despite Barnier's repeated concessions. Le Pen announced her own motion of no confidence and said that her party would also support the left-wing alliance's motion.

If the right-wing nationalists and the left-wing camp of communists, socialists, leftists and greens were to actually pull together in the votes on the motions of no confidence, they could bring down the government. A complicated search for a government would probably follow. A new parliamentary election is not possible until the summer.

SDA