French prime minister Michelle Bannier will tender his resignation to French President Maqueron on May 5, local time.
French President Maqueron (left) and Prime Minister Bannier (right)
The French National Assembly voted Thursday night to approve a motion of no confidence on the government. Under the French Constitution, Bannier, the prime minister, will tender his resignation to the president on behalf of the government. It was the first time since 1962 that the French government had been overthrown by Parliament.
That afternoon, the National Assembly deliberated on two motion of no confidence of the government. The motion of no confidence, submitted by 185 members of the left-wing camp, received 331 votes in favour, more than the minimum of 288 needed to pass the motion of no confidence. The other motion of no confidence was put to a no-vote vote by 140 members of the far-right camp.
The French prime minister is unhappy about forcing through a budget bill
On December 2nd Bannier, the French prime minister, imposed a 2025 budget
On the 2nd of this month, Banier bypassed the National Assembly to force through a social security bill, causing extreme right-wing and left-wing parties strong dissatisfaction. Both the far-right NLD and the left-wing coalition New People’s front have submitted motion of no confidence against the Banier government. The French National Assembly held a pre-vote debate on the motion of no confidence against the government Thursday afternoon.
Barnier had tried to evoke a“Sense of duty” in mps
Barnier said Wednesday night that he was still willing to negotiate with Marina Lepaon’s far-right National Union and other political parties on the draft budget.
Bannier said it was “Possible” that members of parliament would show “A sense of responsibility” in the vote and that the government would survive the motion of no confidence. “That’s what I want and that’s what’s possible,” he said. “Putting aside political differences, differences and the usual contradictions of democracies, we tell ourselves that there are more important interests at stake.”
Political fragmentation exacerbates France’s governance dilemma
In the middle of this year, France held early National Assembly elections, the new Parliament does not have an absolute majority. Then Maqueron appointed Bannier, a rightwing Republican, as prime minister. Some French political observers believe that the French election results will lead to increased competition between different political parties, not only difficult to bridge the gap in public opinion, but may lead to greater political disputes and social divisions.
Maqueron announced the dissolution of the National Assembly and an early election for a new national assembly in early June after the ruling Ba’ath Party received far fewer votes than the far-right NLD. In June and July this year, France held early elections for its National Assembly. There is no clear majority in the new parliament, with 193 seats for the left-wing coalition, the New People’s front, and 166 for the centrist wing on which President Maqueron is leaning, the far-right National Union and its allies received 142 seats. All three camps fall well short of the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority in parliament.
After the results of the National Assembly election, Mr Maqueron rejected Syriza’s candidate for Prime Minister and on September 5th appointed Mr Barnier, a rightwing Republican, as the prime minister. The party’s caucus in the National Assembly has only 47 seats. Some French political observers believe that the French election results will lead to increased competition between different political parties, Banier’s government is facing double pressure from the left and the far right.