Paris (AP) Marine Le Pen, the leader of the French far-right, stated on Monday that unless the country’s budget plan is changed, she could overthrow the country’s minority administration before the end of the year.
Le Pen said this following a discussion about the budget for the upcoming year and other matters with conservative Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Later in the day, Barnier was scheduled to meet with additional center- and left-leaning political figures.
Le Pen stated that if the bill currently being discussed in parliament remains unchanged, she and other members of her National Rally party would present a resolution of confidence.
Le Pen stated that among her red lines were the necessity of raising state pensions starting in January and her refusal to hike power taxes.
To remain in power, Barnier’s Cabinet must rely on the goodwill of the far right. By December 21st, the budget measure for the following year must be approved.
Le Pen stated, “We identified the things that we could not compromise on.” We take a forthright stance on politics. We stand up for the French people.
The National Assembly, France’s influential lower chamber of parliament, is split into three main blocs after the June–July legislative elections: the far-right National Rally party, Macron’s centrist partners, the New Popular Front, and a left-wing coalition. They all failed to secure a clear majority.
Just over 210 out of 577 MPs make up Barnier’s Cabinet, which is primarily made up of centrists from President Emmanuel Macron’s alliance and members of his Republican party.
The executive branch of the European Union is pressuring France to lower its enormous debt. Through a 60 billion ($66 billion) budget squeeze, Barnier’s Cabinet hopes to lower France’s deficit from a projected 6% of GDP this year to 5% next year.
Because the far-right organization did not cast a ballot, the administration was able to survive a confidence vote that was brought about by the left-wing coalition last month.
Le Pen’s remarks coincide with her and other National Rally executives’ trial in Paris for alleged misappropriation of funds belonging to the European Parliament. Prosecutors in Paris asked that she be sentenced to two years in prison and barred from running for office for five years.
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