Over 50% of French people want government to fall, survey finds

The 106th session of the Congress of Mayors in Paris

FILE PHOTO: French Prime Minister Michel Barnier leaves after his speech during the 106th session of the Congress of Mayors organised by the "France's Mayors' Association" (AMF), in Paris, France, November 21, 2024. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File Photo

Source: REUTERS

Some 53% of French people want Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government to fall due to anger over his proposed budget, according to an Ifop-Fiducial poll for Sud Radio published on Thursday.

The poll indicated that 67% opposed Barnier's budget, which aims to cut France's spiralling public deficit through 60 billion euros ($63 billion) in tax hikes and spending cuts, while 33% backed it.

Barnier's government could fall before Christmas, and perhaps even by next week, if far-right and leftist foes force a no-confidence motion that he is likely to lose, according to a dozen sources from across the political spectrum.

The findings in the Ifop-Fiducial poll were based on a survey of 1,006 people carried out on Nov. 26 and Nov. 27.

In an Elabe poll for BFM TV on Wednesday, 63% of those surveyed said President Emmanuel Macron should resign if Barnier's government fell.

This article was produced by Reuters news agency. It has not been edited by Global South World.

By Reuters