Il French government by Elisabeth Borne yes save, but for the skin of the cuff. The motion of distrust "transpartisan" presented by the independent party Lit, the most dangerous as voted by all oppositions to the government after the controversial pension reform strongly advocated by President Macron, stopped at 278 votes in favour. Nine fewer than needed for approval, or 287, but less than half of what was thought to be the "margin of safety" of the majority. On the other hand, no surprise for the second motion of censure: that of the far-right party National Gathering by Marine Le Pen (with only 94 votes in favor out of 287), who shortly before had declared: "Borne must resign or the president must remove her from office".
France, no confidence in the government passes: here's what happened
The event that led to the showdown in the National Assembly was the appeal to thearticle 49 paragraph 3 of the Constitution, the instrument adopted by the executive to avoid a parliamentary shipwreck that would have put an end to a key measure for the Elysée (the pension reform). A decision that sparked a weekend of protests, including violent ones, across the country.
"The 49.3 is not the invention of a dictator" declared the French premier Borne, defending the government choice in the debate that preceded the vote. Thanks to the rejection of the motion of censure, the pension reform it has become law.
The pension reform is law, but the last word remains with the Constitutional Court
But everything suggests that the question does not end there. Immediately following the vote, lawmakers from the left-wing Nupes alliance brandished signs reading “RIP” and “gather in the streets”. And meanwhile protests are mounting in the capital: some bins are already on fire and it is expected that in the next few days anger and mobilization will grow, beyond the day of strikes and demonstrations declared for Thursday March 23.
Furthermore, the unions intend to continue the street demonstrations and strikes until the squeeze on social security is lifted. Also, the reformist union leader Lawrence Berger, of the CFDT, solemnly asks Macron not to promulgate the law, effectively freezing the reform as President Jacques Chirac and his premier Dominique de Villepin did in 2006 with the first job contract.
Others, like Mathilde Panot president of the Nupes-LFI group in the National Assembly, are taking steps to organize a popular initiative referendum to abrogate the reform. And then there is the use of Constitutional Council, chaired by the socialist Laurent Fabius, which will have to pronounce itself within a month and could reject the reform entirely (remote eventuality) or in part.
What will Macron do?
But for Borne and Macron it's not about a win, given that most of the Gaullist deputies (Republicains) voted in favor going against the indications of the president of the party, Eric Ciotti. Not to mention the vertical collapse of trust in the Elysée. According to a survey by the French broadcaster Bfmtv, two out of three French judge Macron's recourse to article 49.3 as a "denial of democracy". A move that has not gone down well with either public opinion or the majority and now Macron, who will remain at the Elysée until 2027, will have to find a way to appease popular protests and to get out of a deep political crisis. As for Prime Minister Borne, she remains in office for now, but she herself considers herself a "fuse" and Macron could most likely decide to replace her.
