AP

Macron’s centrist French govt survives no-confidence votes

Oct 24, 2022, 11:08 AM | Updated: 11:27 am

FILE- French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne arrives to deliver a speech at the National Assembly, i...

FILE- French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne arrives to deliver a speech at the National Assembly, in Paris, France, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. The French government survived Monday two no-confidence votes prompted by opposition lawmakers to protest against the use of a special constitutional power to force the budget bill through the National Assembly without a vote. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

(AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist government survived two no-confidence votes Monday prompted by opposition lawmakers to protest the use of a special constitutional power to force the budget bill through the National Assembly without a vote.

The leftist Nupes coalition and the far-right National Rally party had filed two separate no-confidence motions.

Only a minority of legislators approved both motions, far short of the 289 votes needed — or half the seats in the lower house of France’s Parliament. The right-wing opposition party, The Republicans, did not support the move.

The bill for next year’s budget is therefore considered adopted without vote and will now be debated at the Senate.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne justified her decision to invoke the French Constitution’s Article 49.3.

“That’s not an easy thing, but in such troubled times, that decision was needed,” she said. “We had to provide the French with a budget in line with their democratic choices and consistent with our political direction.”

Macron’s centrist alliance lost its parliamentary majority in June, making it much more difficult for his government to get laws passed the conventional way in the lower house of parliament, where it is faced with multiple budget amendments from the opposition.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said the use of the Article 49.3 shows the “weakness of the power and above all, its incapacity to federate, to accept listening and exchanging about public policies — in short, an inability to play the democratic game.”

Le Pen denounced the government’s “refusal to discuss, to accept compromises.”

Green lawmaker Cyrielle Chatelain, representing the Nupes coalition, strongly criticized the budget bill as not going far enough to curb carbon emissions and protect the environment.

“Prime minister, you are lying,” she said, denouncing the government’s “inaction” on climate change. “Your inaction can be counted in numbers of days of drought … and hectares of burned forests.”

The debate at the National Assembly comes after weeks of wage strikes that have hobbled fuel refineries and depots, sparking gasoline shortages. Last week, tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets, asking for pay hikes that keep pace with inflation. The left-wing CGT union called for two other days of “national mobilization” on Thursday and on Nov. 10.

Europeans have seen their energy bills and food prices soar because of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Inflation in France is running at 6.2%, the lowest in the 19 eurozone countries, and the proposed budget for next year is based on predicted growth of 1% next year, down from an estimated 2.7% this year.

Despite losing its majority, Macron’s centrist alliance still has the most National Assembly seats, with 250. The Nupes is the largest opposition force with 151 seats, while the National Rally party has 89 seats.

Another no-confidence vote, this time regarding the government’s decision to force through the National Assembly the social security budget bill, was also expected to be rejected late Monday.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


              FILE- The National Assembly is pictured as French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne delivers a speech in Paris, France, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. The French government survived Monday two no-confidence votes prompted by opposition lawmakers to protest against the use of a special constitutional power to force the budget bill through the National Assembly without a vote. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)
            
              FILE- French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne arrives to deliver a speech at the National Assembly, in Paris, France, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. The French government survived Monday two no-confidence votes prompted by opposition lawmakers to protest against the use of a special constitutional power to force the budget bill through the National Assembly without a vote. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena, File)

AP

Republican presidential candidates, from left, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former New Jers...

Associated Press

3rd Republican presidential debate is set for Nov. 8 in Miami, with the strictest qualifications yet

The third Republican presidential debate will be held in Miami on Nov. 8, a day after several states hold off-year elections.

3 days ago

During the equinox, the Earth’s axis and its orbit line up so that both hemispheres get an equal ...

Associated Press

The fall equinox is here. What does that mean?

The equinox arrives on Saturday, marking the start of the fall season for the Northern Hemisphere. But what does that actually mean?

3 days ago

Ray Epps Ray Epps, an Arizona man who became the center of a conspiracy theory about Jan. 6, 2021, ...

Associated Press

Ray Epps, an Arizona man who supported Trump, pleads guilty to Capital riot charge

Ray Epps, the target of a conspiracy theory about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge.

5 days ago

Former President Donald Trump repeatedly declined in an interview aired Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, to ...

Associated Press

Trump refuses to say in a TV interview how he watched the Jan. 6 attack unfold at the US Capitol

Former President Donald Trump repeatedly declined in an interview aired Sunday to answer questions about whether he watched the Capitol riot.

9 days ago

This frame grab from video, provided by the Mexican government, shows Ovidio Guzman Lopez being det...

Associated Press

Mexico extradites son of ‘El Chapo,’ Ovidio Guzman Lopez to US

The son of notorious cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, Ovidio Guzman Lopez was extradited to the U.S. on Friday.

9 days ago

impeachments in US history...

Associated Press

A look at notable impeachments in US history, including Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted Saturday on during his impeachment trial. Here's a roundup of impeachments in U.S. history.

9 days ago

Sponsored Articles

...

DAY & NIGHT AIR CONDITIONING, HEATING AND PLUMBING

Importance of AC maintenance after Arizona’s excruciating heat wave

An air conditioning unit in Phoenix is vital to living a comfortable life inside, away from triple-digit heat.

...

OCD & Anxiety Treatment Center

5 mental health myths you didn’t know were made up

Helping individuals understand mental health diagnoses like obsessive compulsive spectrum disorder or generalized anxiety disorder isn’t always an easy undertaking. After all, our society tends to spread misconceptions about mental health like wildfire. This is why being mindful about how we talk about mental health is so important. We can either perpetuate misinformation about already […]

...

SANDERSON FORD

Thank you to Al McCoy for 51 years as voice of the Phoenix Suns

Sanderson Ford wants to share its thanks to Al McCoy for the impact he made in the Valley for more than a half-decade.

Macron’s centrist French govt survives no-confidence votes