Macron and "D-Day": Fiction

During that time, French MPs are preparing to vote on the confidence in the government in the afternoon, French media reported today.

"That makes no sense... I stand before you today because I was elected twice by the will of the French people," said Macron, who is visiting Saudi Arabia, BFM television reports.

In recent days, many party political officials have called for Macron's resignation - from those from the far-right National Assembly (RN) to those from the extreme leftist Reconquête! Prime Minister Michel Barnier is threatened with a vote of no confidence today in the parliament, and Macron said that he "cannot believe" in that possibility.

"I believe that the MPs of the RN cannot in their conscience vote for a resolution that offends them and their voters," said the French president, adding that he does not believe that the socialist MPs will dare to vote of no confidence in the government together with the two extreme parties "that want chaos".

The Socialist Party has 66 MPs in the National Assembly, and their votes and the votes of the RN MPs will be key to achieving the absolute majority needed to bring down the prime minister and the government.

Today, from 16:00, the National Assembly will vote on the vote of confidence in the government, which has not happened in that institution since 1962, and which could plunge the country into great political and budgetary uncertainty.

Left-wing and far-right parliamentary groups in the French parliament tabled a motion of no confidence in the government on Monday, after Prime Minister Barnier decided to use Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to force the passage of budget measures without a vote.

If that proposal is adopted today, Barnier will be forced to resign after only two and a half months at the head of the government. The request for a vote of confidence in the government was submitted by the New People's Front (NFP), a left-wing coalition that includes the Socialists, the Greens, the far left and the Communist Party.

Marine Le Pen, MP and leader of the far-right RN, stepped up pressure on the government on Monday by announcing that her party is also submitting a no-confidence motion.

Together, the NFP and RN have enough MPs to topple the government. Namely, in order for it to be adopted, at least 288 MPs need to vote for the motion of no confidence in the government, and the left and the extreme right have 322 MPs.

On Monday, Barnier invoked Article 49.3 of the Constitution to impose the controversial draft budget measures without parliamentary approval, after the RN gave him until that day to make changes to the budget proposal proposed by the party, threatening otherwise to support the motion for vote of no confidence in the government.

On Sunday, Barnier abandoned a planned increase in electricity taxes, but Le Pen said it was not enough. That party also demanded an increase in pensions in line with inflation, that state subsidies for medicines not be reduced and that the price of gas not be increased, as well as a reduction of the French contribution to the EU budget.

French President Macron could ask the parties, if the government falls, to form a new coalition majority or appoint a strictly technocratic government, bringing in outsiders to run the country until new parliamentary elections next summer.

General elections in France cannot be held within 12 months of the previous election.