She is a prime minister on borrowed time. However, Elisabeth Borne said Thursday, June 23 on LCI not to “ask questions” about his future at Matignon. And this despite the calls for resignation made by the opposition and the desire of some, in the majority, to replace it after the results of the second round of the legislative elections, where Macronie failed to obtain a majority. absolute in the National Assembly. “I’m in action,” she said afterwards.
Asked to know she was going to incur her responsibility on July 5 during the traditional declaration of general policy, Elisabeth Borne affirmed that she had “not decided this point” yet. This possibility is provided for by article 49 of the Constitution, which stipulates that “the Prime Minister, after deliberation by the Council of Ministers, engages before the National Assembly the responsibility of the government on its program or possibly on a declaration of general policy” . In the event of a vote against, the government is overthrown and must resign. The process is therefore risky for Elisabeth Borne in the absence of an absolute majority at the Palais Bourbon because it would require at least one abstention from the deputies Les Républicains (LR).
The declaration of general policy or the Prime Minister explains his program is not mandatory but remains an essential step. It is most often followed by a vote of confidence which engages the responsibility of the executive. Here again, the vote of confidence is not obligatory for a new government. Predecessors of Elisabeth Borne chose not to be exposed to a vote by the Assembly, such as Michel Rocard in 1988, for lack of an absolute majority, Edith Cresson in 1991 and Pierre Bérégovoy in 1992 for the same reasons . But most newly appointed governments have resorted to accountability on their agenda.
If Elisabeth Borne decided not to take responsibility, the maneuver would be seen as an admission of weakness. And, in this case, the Insoumis have already promised to file a motion of censure. If it is voted by more than 289 deputies, it will then force the government to submit its resignation.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon assured Tuesday, June 21 that the head of government today had “no legitimacy” to govern. “Madam Prime Minister, you must come here and seek the vote of the deputies to have confidence,” said the former presidential candidate from the National Assembly, to the press.
Earlier in the afternoon, he said: “This woman has no legitimacy, zero! We are wasting our time, until she leaves.” For the leader of the Insoumis, who is no longer a deputy, Elisabeth Borne should resign if she did not obtain the confidence of the deputies.
However, differences are already visible within the New Popular Ecological and Social Union (Nupes), which brings together left-wing deputies under the same banner. Thus, for the deputy of the French Communist Party (PCF) and ex-presidential candidate Fabien Roussel, a motion of censure will not be necessary if the Prime Minister asks for confidence by a vote in her general policy speech.
