France's far-right leader vows to move no-confidence motion in parliament against Premier Barnier

By Necva Tastan Sevinc

ISTANBUL (AA) – French far-right National Rally (RN) leader Marine Le Pen on Monday confirmed that her party will move a no-confidence motion in the parliament against the French government led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier.

Le Pen made the announcement during media talks outside parliament after Barnier's decision to avoid voting in the lower house, known as the National Assembly, and instead invoke Article 49.3 of the constitution to pass the contentious social security budget.

Le Pen criticized the legislation, calling it "deeply unfair" to the French people. "We are filing a motion of no-confidence and we will vote to censure the government," she declared.

She added that RN deputies will support motions of censure "wherever they come from," reaffirming their commitment to voting for both the left-wing groups' motions and their own.

Moreover, RN deputies will support the left-wing opposition's motion of censure, she said.

Despite concessions made by the government, including some adjustments to the budget, Barnier refused the RN’s final demand to abandon partial de-indexation of pensions.

Earlier in the National Assembly, sensing a lack of majority support, Barnier exercised his discretionary powers under Article 49.3, which allows the government to pass legislation without parliamentary approval if it survives a subsequent vote of no-confidence.

Debate in the National Assembly was subsequently suspended.

The no-confidence motion, led by the left-wing groups, is scheduled to be debated and voted on Wednesday, within 48 hours.

If the motion is passed, the Barnier government will fall, and ministers will serve in a caretaker capacity to handle current affairs, including potentially emergency legislation to prevent a government shutdown.

French President Emmanuel Macron would then be required to appoint a new prime minister, although there is no constitutional deadline for his decision.