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The French government on the verge of collapse, risks being overthrown by a motion of no confidence

The French government on the verge of collapse, risks being overthrown by a
Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government faces almost certain defeat in a no-confidence vote that could dramatically intensify the political crisis in one of the EU's key member states.

If Wednesday's vote goes through, Barnier's administration, which took office in September, would be the first in France to be ousted by a no-confidence motion since 1962. Its fall, at the hands of far-right parties and left, it would be a significant blow to Europe a few weeks before Donald Trump returns to the White House, writes The Guardian

The hard-line interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, said that if the government were to fall, it would "put France and the French into an unbearable situation". Those supporting the motion were playing "Russian roulette" with its future, he said.

The parliamentary debate will start at 16:00 local time, followed by a vote of approximately three hours. Two separate no-confidence motions have been tabled, from the left and far-right opposition, with the former widely expected to pass.

President Emmanuel Macron, who is on a visit to Saudi Arabia, is expected to return to France in what the media have described as a "moment of truth" that risks "plunging France into the great political and financial unknown". .

France's political crisis, which has erupted over the past three months, erupted on Monday when Barnier said he would push the social security component of his government's 2025 budget to parliament without a vote.

 

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