French political atmosphere sours ahead of no-confidence vote
Calls of back-stabbing and betrayal further soured the political atmosphere of France, already heavy with dirty tricks allegations, after the centrist leader’s decision to vote for a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.
National Assembly leader Jean-Louis Debre accused centrist leader Francois Bayrou of betraying his “political friends”, the conservative majority.
Meanwhile the transport minister said presidential ambitions were behind the decision.
Politicians vote tomorrow on a motion of no-confidence filed by the opposition Socialists in the wake of a dirty tricks scandal that has dominated French political life for weeks.
Bayrou, head of the centrist UDF, announced yesterday that he would vote in favour of the measure – that in theory could bring down the government – but is not holding the 29 other UDF politicians to his choice. Still, some began joining in.
The measure has no chance of passing because of the governing conservative’s strong majority – 364 deputies out of 577. But it gives a political framework to the rising opposition against the government.
It will be the third no-confidence motion filed against Villepin’s government since he was appointed nearly a year ago.
