The parliamentary initiative led by Mélenchon has little chance of moving forward as it lacks the support of the right-wing opposition
The left-wing parties today presented a motion of censure against the French government shortly before the declaration of general policy by the Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, began before the National Assembly, the lower house of Parliament.
“In the absence of a vote of confidence, we have had no other option than to follow this path,” the deputies of La Francia Insumisa, the Socialist Party, Europe Ecology-The Greens (EE-LV) and the Communist Party, who consider it a “motion of no confidence.”
The New Popular Ecological and Social Union (Nupes), which brings together these four left-wing parliamentary groups, lamented that parliamentarians cannot solemnly express in the chamber with their vote whether they support or oppose the Borne Executive.
Unlike his predecessors in the post, Borne will not submit to a vote of confidence from the deputies after his declaration of general policy, since he does not have enough votes to overcome it. However, she is not obligated to do so. The president’s party, Emmanuel Macron, and his allies only have a relative majority in the hemicycle after the legislative elections in June.
The people’s vote
«We propose a motion of censure to respect the vote of the people, who have said no to Macron in the parliamentary elections. Those (in the opposition) who do not want to vote are lying to their electorate,” wrote Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of Nupes, on Twitter.
The National Assembly must vote on the motion of censure at least 48 hours after it has been presented, that is, at the earliest on Friday afternoon. However, it does not have much chance of succeeding, since the four left-wing parties lack enough votes for it to be approved. The Republicans (moderate right) and National Rally (Marine Le Pen’s far-right party) have already said they will not support her.
Presenting a motion of censure is the only means available to the National Assembly to force the resignation of the Prime Minister and his Government in France. At least 58 deputies are needed to process it. To be approved, an absolute majority is required, that is, 289 votes out of the 577 in the lower house. Except for a last-minute surprise, Borne, appointed by Macron as prime minister in May, will continue in her position.
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