French government faces collapse as National Rally pushes for budget changes
French PM **Michel Barnier** faces crucial vote that might end his leadership tomorrow. National Rally party demands major budget adjustments while financial markets show growing worry about French stability
The French political scene is getting real-messy right now (as December starts) with a high-stakes showdown between Michel Barnierʼs government and the far-right National Rally; its gonna be make-or-break time tomorrow
In a super-tense weekend development Marine Le Pen said talks with government hit a wall: the ruling team just wont budge on their budget plans. Last week they did drop that not-so-popular electricity tax thing but that wasnt enough for the far-right crowd
The National Rally has some pretty clear demands they want met:
- Pension increases matching todays prices
- No cuts to medicine coverage
- Lower gas taxes
- Less money going to EU stuff
Budget Minister Laurent Saint-Martin is sticking to his guns though; he says theyʼll keep the social security deal thats already been worked out. Jordan Bardella (who runs National Rally) thinks thats just the government being way too stubborn
The money-people are getting nervous about all this drama - French stocks arent looking so hot and the countrys debt is making investors kinda jumpy (hitting some not-great numbers we havent seen in like 12 years). At least S&P didnt change Frances rating on friday which was a tiny bit of good news
If things go south tomorrow and that no-confidence vote happens Antoine Armand says itll be pretty rough: theyd need some quick-fix budget laws and about 17 million French folks might see their taxes get weird because of inflation stuff. Plus those pension payments could get really tight
