Macron Faces No-Confidence Vote Amid Budget Crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron's government, led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier, is facing a potential no-confidence vote on December 2 due to their use of Article 49.3 to pass a controversial social security budget bill without parliamentary approval. The far-right National Rally (RN) party, led by Jordan Bardella, has threatened to support a no-confidence motion unless Barnier meets their demands, including pension increases and the scrapping of planned cuts to medication reimbursements. Barnier has already made concessions, such as dropping a planned electricity tax increase, but RN remains dissatisfied and insists on further changes. Analysts warn that if the RN influences fiscal policies, it could exacerbate France's financial situation, which is already precarious. The political standoff could escalate as Barnier may resort to aggressive constitutional powers to push the budget through, prompting immediate no-confidence motions from opposition parties. If the government falls, it could mark a significant shift in French politics, as no government has been ousted via such a vote since 1962.