Lionel Jospin urges the left not to vote for the censure, warning of the risks for the country

Former Prime Minister Lionel Jospin strongly urged the socialists and the broader left to “not vote for the censure” as a 49.3 procedure is expected on Monday for the state budget, which could lead to a censure motion on Wednesday. This motion is promised by parts of the left, including La France Insoumise (LFI).

Severe consequences in case of censure

In an interview aired on France 5, Lionel Jospin warned of the dramatic consequences of a censure, particularly the paralysis of the administration. “What would happen is that the administration would no longer be in charge, and there would be neither a budget nor a Social Security financing law,” he stated. According to him, this situation would jeopardize the handling of crises such as the one in Mayotte, reconciliation in New Caledonia, and the implementation of an anti-drug trafficking plan. “Voting for the censure today would indeed be irresponsible,” he concluded.

Tensions within the left and the government’s response

The socialists, themselves divided on the strategy to adopt, have opposed a budget they deem insufficient, despite a few concessions made in the joint parliamentary committee. Although Prime Minister François Bayrou has upheld certain commitments, the socialists criticized the budget as “largely insufficient.” Meanwhile, LFI denounced a “worse than the Barnier budget” and urged voting for the censure motion against the government.

The situation remains tense within the left, with crucial decisions ahead regarding the budget and its impact on government policy.