France's Prime Minister asserts that accumulated debt is lethally detrimental to the country's well-being, addressing the parliament.
In the heart of the French political scene, Prime Minister François Bayrou faced a tense atmosphere in the National Assembly on Monday, as he delivered his final address in an attempt to win over lawmakers before a crucial confidence vote later in the day.
The address, however, did not reveal any new information about France's debt situation or the proposed budget cuts. Instead, Bayrou reiterated his government's plan to help France escape the tide of debt in a few years.
Amidst Bayrou's speech, opposition parties repeatedly interrupted, causing a disruption that the Prime Minister jokingly turned into a light-hearted comment about having a chance to drink.
The opposition parties, working together, have been pushing to unseat Bayrou's government. The vote, scheduled for later on Monday, is expected to bring down Bayrou's minority administration.
Bayrou accused the far right and hard left opposition of risking "turmoil" in France, a statement that added to the already tense atmosphere in the chamber.
During his speech, Bayrou defended billions of euros of budget cuts, reminding MPs that they have the power to overthrow the government but not to erase reality.
France has not had a balanced budget for 51 years, according to Bayrou. The Prime Minister has previously declared the country's debt pile as "life-threatening."
It is not explicitly clear who is leading the opposition efforts against the government, but Marine Le Pen from the right-wing Rassemblement National is noted as a prominent opposition figure wishing for new elections and could be involved in the opposition's plans.
As the confidence vote approaches, the fate of Bayrou's government hangs in the balance, with the Prime Minister urging lawmakers to consider the potential consequences of not taking the vote, although he did not elaborate on these consequences in his address.
The vote, expected to eject Bayrou's administration, promises to be a significant moment in French politics. Bayrou was seen sipping water during his address, a small gesture that seemed to reflect the gravity of the situation.
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