Three months after his appointment, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces growing opposition.
A majority of French citizens want his government to fall, undermining him as he begins a series of consultations trying to find compromises on the budget.
An Ipsos poll for La Tribune Dimanche released on November 25 reveals 53 per cent support for a censure motion expressing strong disapproval of the government, backed by 88 per cent of the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI), while Macronists oppose it.
Notably, 67 per cent of National Rally (RN) voters want to bring the government down, potentially pushing National Rally (RN) de facto head Marine Le Pen to act, as she is under legal pressure regarding alleged embezzlement of European Union funds.
Marine Le Pen faces potential prison time and a ban from public office for alleged embezzlement of EU funds. https://t.co/qrB2xAfckv
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) November 14, 2024
As a majority of the French want to see the government collapse, Barnier’s popularity ratings fell by four points in November.
Some 45 per cent of those polled said they were satisfied with him when he took up his post in September, compared with 40 per cent in October and 36 per cent now, according to the Ifop poll for the Journal du Dimanche.
Among the most dissatisfied groups are blue-collar workers, but also civil servants, the unemployed, supporters of La France Insoumise, and the National Rally.
Opposition parties are threatening to bring down the government as it seeks to approve the country’s budget.
The RN had previously warned that it was prepared to take action that could lead to the downfall of the administration if necessary.
Following a meeting with Barnier on November 25, Le Pen’s party may act if the budget remains unchanged.
She told journalists: “I repeated to the Prime Minister for the umpteenth time the red lines that are ours. The measures for the purchasing power of the French are not admissible for us, while the necessary savings, particularly on immigration, are not being made”
J'ai répété au Premier ministre pour la énième fois les lignes rouges qui sont les nôtres. Les mesures envisagées contre le pouvoir d'achat des Français ne sont pas admissibles pour nous, alors que les économies nécessaires, notamment sur l'immigration, ne sont pas réalisées. pic.twitter.com/SM9ZgLyUz9
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) November 25, 2024
The LFI went further pushing for French President Emmanuel Macron to resign if MPs voted to bring Barnier down.
Mathilde Panot, president of the LFI group in the French parliament, said on November 24 she was confident that the government would tumble and argued that Macron would not have much option other than to resign.
“When the Barnier government falls — because it will fall — Emmanuel Macron will have only two options: appoint Lucie Castets –left-wing alliance PM’s candidate– or present his resignation to the French people,” she said.
RN previously filed for impeachment proceedings against the president.
If Macron were to resign, an early presidential election would be called within 35 days and Gérard Larcher, leader of the Senate, would become the interim president.
Such a scenario may be a long way off yet. Last June, Macron categorically ruled out any possibility of resigning.
More than 300,000 people have signed the hard-left La France Insoumise's petition calling for French President Emmanuel Macron’s impeachment, the party has announced. https://t.co/Hdaxbnoi5J
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) September 17, 2024
