Le Pen threatens to bring down French government over budget

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Monday, November 25, threatened to back a no-confidence motion that could topple the government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier in a standoff over the budget, saying after talks that both sides were entrenched in their positions.

Months of political tensions since right-winger Barnier became prime minister at the helm of a minority government appointed by President Emmanuel Macron in the wake of this summer’s elections are coming to a head over the budget, which has yet to be approved by parliament.

The opposition on all sides of the spectrum have denounced the budget, prompting Barnier to consider brandishing the weapon of article 49.3 of the constitution which allows a government to force legislation through without a vote in Parliament.That could prompt Le Pen’s Rassemblement National (RN) party to team up in an unholy alliance with the left-wing bloc and topple the government in a no-confidence vote.

Le Pen entered the Matignon residence of the French prime minister for the breakfast meeting and was to be followed later in the afternoon by radical left La France Insoumise (LFI) leader in Parliament, Mathilde Panot, as Barnier seeks to hear voices across the board.

“My position has not changed. No more, it seems, than that of the prime minister has changed,” Le Pen said after meeting Barnier, describing him as “at the same time courteous but also entrenched in his positions.” Asked if the RN would back a no-confidence motion, she replied: “Of course.”

Le Pen downplayed the consequences of the budget being rejected, saying she did not believe “in this notion that ‘if this budget is rejected, if there is a no-confidence motion, it will be dramatic, there will be chaos, etc’.”

‘Greek style crisis’

Further complicating the situation is the constitutional rule in France that there must be a one-year gap between legislative elections, meaning that Macron cannot call an election until the summer to resolve the crisis.

“Michel Barnier is creating the conditions for a vote of no confidence,” RN deputy leader Sebastien Chenu said on Sunday. But he insisted that the move would not paralyze France and that Macron still had options, including resigning before his term ends in 2027, something the president has previously ruled out. “The president has several options… reappoint the same prime minister, appoint a new prime minister, resign if he has no other solution, or call a referendum,” he added.

Government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon had warned in an interview published in the The Parisian daily that France risked a “Greek-style situation” if the government was brought down, referring to Greece’s 2007-2008 financial crisis.

The issue comes at a critical time for three-time presidential candidate Le Pen, who fancies having her best ever crack at the Elysée in polls due in 2027. Le Pen, 56, and other RN defendants are currently on trial accused of creating fake jobs at the EU parliament, which they deny. If convicted, she could receive a jail sentence and a ban from public office, which would disqualify her from the presidential polls.

Her young lieutenant, Jordan Bardella, 29, who is the RN party chief, is not among the accused and is seen by some as harboring his own presidential positions. Bardella, who has just published his first book What I’m looking for (“What I am Looking For”), told French television last week that “not having a criminal record is, for me, rule number one when you want to be an MP.” Although opponents have dubbed Bardella “Brutus” after the Roman politician who assassinated ex-ally Julius Caesar, Le Pen denied any tensions with her protégé, saying they had a “relationship built on trust.”