French Parliament is expected to vote to overthrow the government this Wednesday (4)

The Prime Minister of France, Michel Barnier, risks being overthrown this week by the French parliament, after having tried to pass his budget for 2025 without the approval of the Legislature, this Monday (2). The prime minister has only been in government for two months, but is facing strong resistance over a fiscal austerity plan.

Without a majority in parliament, Barnier used executive powers to force the approval of a controversial budget, which triggered a reaction from the opposition. The left, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s French Insubmissive France (LFI), presented a motion of no confidence, which was also taken up by the extreme right, led by Marine Le Pen.

Together, both the LFI and Le Pen’s National Rally have enough votes to mobilize a government overthrow.

The debate on the motion of no confidence is scheduled to begin at 12pm (Brasília time) this Wednesday (4). Voting is expected to last around three hours, according to parliament officials.

The political crisis reached its peak when Barnier stated that he would try to get part of the social security budget approved in parliament without a vote.

Barnier invoked a constitutional provision that is rarely used to approve the budget without requiring a vote in Parliament. The mechanism was also used by President Emmanuel Macron in 2023 to impose an unpopular pension reform.

The prime minister’s plan foresees cuts of up to 40 billion euros (R$255 billion), in addition to an increase in taxes to generate revenue of 20 billion euros (R$127 billion).

Barnier had been seeking support from the far right to implement the plan. In recent weeks, however, his cabinet and Le Pen’s group have split.

France is experiencing a political crisis that worsened in June. At the time, Macron dissolved Parliament and called new elections after the advance of the far right within the European Parliament.

The French elections ended with a victory for the broad front formed by a union of left-wing parties. However, none of the political groups managed to win an absolute majority of seats in Congress.

In September, Macron announced Michel Barnier as the new prime minister. Conservative, pragmatic and nicknamed “France’s Joe Biden”, Barnier was chosen with the aim of mediating between the different wings of Parliament and for his political experience.

The appointment, however, failed to calm the tempers of the French Parliament. The government has become fragile, and the 2025 budget has shed light on the political turmoil the country is experiencing.