French PM scraps electricity tax under no-confidence threat

FRANCE 24 English

Visit our website: http://www.france24.com  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/France24_en

Transcript

00:00Hoping to steer France's minority government out of a deepening political crisis,

00:05French Prime Minister Michel Barnier agreed Thursday to scrap plans for an unpopular

00:10electricity tax hike. Far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella welcomed the move,

00:16but warned Barnier only had a few days left to make even more concessions or risk the

00:22government's collapse. The Macron administration and the opposition have for weeks been locked

00:27in a tense standoff over proposed budget cuts, which the government says are necessary to bring

00:33down France's deficit, but which have been widely criticized by the left and the far right.

00:40France's left-wing parties, which were left out of the ruling coalition despite coming out on top

00:45in September's snap elections, said they would seek a motion of no confidence if Barnier tried

00:51to force the budget through. Mr Barnier met with the presidents of the socialists,

00:57but rejected all their proposals. So if the government tries to force the budget through,

01:03there will be a no confidence motion, and I will vote for it.

01:07The far right, which now holds the key to the prime minister's survival,

01:11has sought to capitalize on this position of strength to wring out fresh concessions.

01:16It's threatened to support the motion of no confidence if the government didn't do more

01:22to curb immigration and lower taxes.

Category

Transcript

Recommended