French Prime Minister Michel Barnier presented to his cabinet a deficit-slashing budget on Thursday, ahead of a likely battle in parliament. In office for just a month, Barnier recently survived a no-confidence vote from leftist deputies, who argue they should govern instead of the conservative prime minister, following an inconclusive general election.
New French Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Thursday presented a deficit-slashing budget to his cabinet ahead of its submission to a hostile parliament in what is seen as a major test of his government’s staying power.
Barnier, who has been in the job only since last month following an inconclusive general election, earlier this week survived a no-confidence vote brought by leftist deputies who feel they should have been appointed to govern by President Emmanuel Macron instead of the conservative premier.
But despite handily seeing off the opposition in that vote, Barnier remains hostage to the possibility of left-wing and far-right deputies teaming up in the future to force the government to step down in another vote of no confidence.
France’s annual budget debate has often triggered no-confidence motions and Barnier’s plan sparked vocal opposition even before all the details were known.
“This is the most violent austerity plan that this country has ever seen,” said Manuel Bompard, a lawmaker for the hard-left LFI party. “It will cause French people to suffer.”
‘Our children’s future’
Forty billion euros of that will come from spending cuts along with 20 billion from tax increases on high earners and some 400 large companies.
(AFP)
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