The Government of France overcomes two motions of censure, but accuses instability

First modification: 10/24/2022 – 23:45

The Government of France will remain standing after the failure of two motions of censure against it. This Monday, the French deputies rejected the petitions presented by the New Popular Ecological and Social Union (Nupes) coalition, from the left, and the other by the National Group, from the extreme right, after disagreements regarding the approval of the budget law of 2023.

The discontent came after Elisabeth Borne, the French prime minister, activated a constitutional mechanism -article 49.3- to approve the 2023 budgets without the need for a vote.

The motion presented by the left obtained 239 supports and that of the extreme right obtained 90, both without achieving the 289 votes -the absolute majority- that would have forced the Executive to resign. Now, after the rejection of the motions of censure, the first part of the budget law is automatically approved.

However, far from being a triumph, these processes show the lack of consensus and a majority of the Executive in the National Assembly.

“What NUPES and the National Group are looking for is disorder and discord,” said the Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, through social networks.

And it is that, taking advantage of the tension of the moment, the far-right leader Marine Le Pen decided to support the request of the left to further corner the Government. Le Pen assured that the situation in the country justified “putting aside” the ideological differences to try to end the current Executive.

Based on this argument, Borne accused both parties of wanting to end the government “at any price.”

“Their only point in common is that they seek the failure of the Government”, pointed out the head of the Executive, who justified the need to approve the budgets at a time of crisis to “protect the French”.

Lack of majority and blockades in the National Assembly

Although Nupes did not achieve the absolute majority necessary to remove Emmanuel Macron from the Elysée Palace, he did feel the instability that has accompanied the Executive since his loss of majorities.

In fact, having lost the absolute majority in the legislative elections in June was what led the prime minister to resort to article 49.3, since they did not have enough support to carry them out in another way.

But, the left considers that this same lack of majority does not give sufficient legitimacy to the State to be able to carry out its budgets. In addition, it accuses the Government of not wanting to negotiate any of its demands.

“With you, the parliamentary debate always proceeds in the shadows. You only want agreements with yourself. You advocate dialogue, but you only practice monologue,” said Boris Vallaud, leader of the Socialists, as he addressed Borne during the no-confidence motion.

In the midst of the tension in the Lower House, the Prime Minister defended the budgets as a measure against inflation and assured that the 800 million euros of investment are worth it.

The head of the Government, nominated by Macron, faces a third motion on the night of October 24, although it is also highly unlikely that it will go ahead. On this occasion, the leftist coalition accuses the Executive of leaving them without a voice regarding the budgets allocated to Social Security.

If the blockades in the National Assembly continue, President Emmanuel Macron has already repeatedly warned that he is willing to call early elections in order to gather more support that makes it easier to do politics in the country.

With Reuters and EFE