The French government could fall, it's a big risk
The Speaker of the Lower House of the French Parliament warned today of a great risk if the vote of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou proves successful, as this would have a significant impact on various segments, such as the budget.
Politicians from the far-left France Invincible (LFI) party, the Greens and the Communist Party submitted a motion of no confidence in Bayrou's minority government. Political instability in France, which has seen four prime ministers change in the past year, has rattled markets.
Bayrou is likely to survive the vote for now, but losing the support of the center-left Socialist Party, especially after concessions on education and pension reform, would be a major blow.
"We have a budget and this is our priority. Today, we all need to show solidarity and overcome our differences so that the country can move forward and that we are able to respond to issues of great importance," parliament speaker Yael Braun-Pivet told TF1 TV.
Socialist leader Olivier Faure said Bayrou's promise to reopen negotiations on pension reform was not enough, adding that the party would support a vote of no confidence if there was no clear response to their demands.
Braun-Pivet said that if the no-confidence motion is passed, France will not be able to push through either the agriculture bill or a separate bill for Mayotte, a French overseas territory that was hit by a cyclone last month. The debate on the no-confidence vote will be held on Thursday afternoon.
