Michel Barnier’s government faces a critical moment as discussions on motions of censure kick off this Wednesday in Parliament. The fate of the executive hangs in the balance as these debates, expected to be intense and decisive, unfold ahead of the final vote

A decisive day for the Barnier government: the countdown to the vote on the motions of censure

The fate of the government led by Michel Barnier is more uncertain than ever, as the National Assembly braces for a crucial afternoon. The two motions of censure, one filed by the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) and the other by the alliance between the National Rally (RN) and the Ciottist deputies, are set to be debated starting at 4:00 p.m.

The session begins at 2:00 p.m. with what could be the final session of Questions to the Government for the current administration, followed by the debate on the motion to reject the end-of-term budget bill, scheduled for around 3:00 p.m. Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister for the Budget and Public Accounts, is expected to speak in defense of the government’s position.

At 4:30-4:45 p.m., discussions on the motions of censure will commence. Several speakers are expected at the podium: Éric Coquerel (NFP) will start, followed by Marine Le Pen (RN), Boris Vallaud (PS), and Laurent Wauquiez (Republican Right). The debate will continue with Cyrielle Châtelain (NFP), Marc Fesneau (Modem), Laurent Marcangeli (Horizons), Charles de Courson (Liot), Nicolas Sansu (Democratic and Republican Left), Éric Ciotti (Union of the Right), Gabriel Attal (Ensemble), and Stella Dupont (Non-registered).

Michel Barnier will then take the floor to defend his government. The debate is expected to last around two hours, until approximately 6:30 p.m.

Around 6:45 p.m., the deputies will vote on the first motion of censure from the NFP, followed by the one from the RN and Ciottist deputies. The first results are expected to be announced around 8:00 p.m., with the possibility of a censure that would mark the end of the Prime Minister’s tenure.