As part of consultations with the opposition, Prime Minister Michel Barnier received the leader of the National Rally, this Monday, November 25, while the Senate begins examining the 2025 budget. After an hour of interview, Marine Le Pen says she is still ready to overthrow the government.
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It was a decisive meeting for the future of the government, because in the absence of a majority in the Assembly, Michel Barnier warned that he would use “ probably » article 49.3 on the 2025 budget. But to survive a motion of censure, it must prevent the RN, which holds the future of the Barnier government in its hands, from adding its votes to those of the left.
The head of the French government therefore launched a series of consultations with the different parliamentary groups. The first, this Monday, was with Marine Le Pen. And it didn’t allow the corners to be rounded. “ My position has not changed. No more, it seems, than that of the Prime Minister », Reacted the leader of the National Rally as she left Matignon. “ We will see if today’s remarks catch on, but nothing is less certain “, she added.
The leader of the National Rally has reaffirmed her red lines: the purchasing power of the French which she intends to preserve by removing from the budget the provisions on retirement pensions or even the price of electricity and medicines.
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“Courteous, but stuck to his positions »
By receiving his opponents, the Prime Minister wants to demonstrate his will “ listening » and “ constructive dialogue ”, according to those around him. However, Ms. Le Pen denounced the lack of openness from the head of government. “ He appeared to me to be courteous, but stuck to his positions “, she said about Mr. Barnier who was not more open on other themes such as immigration or proportional representation in the legislative elections.
There is therefore no incentive, at this time, for Marine Le Pen to definitively lift the threat of censorship. She also swept “ the little music consisting of saying that if there is censorship, it will be chaos “. “ If the budget does not pass, last year’s budget will apply and it is less bad than this one “, she replied.
The danger of censorship – which would mean the fall of the government and the rejection of the budget – is therefore still not over. After a quick update at the Élysée with the president, the Prime Minister received the leader of the centrist Liot group (Libertés, independents, overseas and territories) Stéphane Lenormand, who left without a word after a good half hour of ‘exchanges.
Towards a final reading in mid-December
Meanwhile, the 2025 draft budget is making its way through the parliamentary circuit. Its examination by senators began this Monday. The elected representatives of the Upper House examine the project in its initial version after the rejection at the Bourbon palacewhere no political group has a majority. As it stands, it forecasts massive savings of 41.3 billion euros and 19.3 billion in additional revenue. via tax increases in order to reduce the public deficit from 6.1% of GDP expected this year to 5% next year.
A solemn vote is planned for December 12, a prelude to the meeting of a Joint Commission (CMP) bringing together elected officials from both chambers in order to develop a compromise text. And according to the president of the finance committee Éric Coquerel (LFI), the final reading of the Assembly will take place on December 18 with most probably a 49.3 and a vote on a motion of censure two days later.