Far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Tuesday warned France's new government its days are numbered as she predicted an early election that could give her a shot at power.
After a turbulent year, ministers in France's fourth government of 2024 assumed power on Tuesday with a vow to steady the financial ship and address bread-and-butter domestic issues. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said he plans to go after drug traffickers and "Islamic separatism" in his new role.
Lacking a majority in the National Assembly, the government led by veteran centrist Francois Bayrou takes office with no clear path to resolving a political stalemate. Ms Le Pen's National Rally party used a no-confidence vote to bring down Mr Bayrou's predecessor, Michel Barnier, who had proposed €60 billion ($62.4 billion) in budget cuts.
In a message on Tuesday, Ms Le Pen said France's "moment of temporary political fluctuation ... will come to an end as soon as the people, through their sovereign will and collective intelligence, decide to do so". She said the French would then "choose a new path to follow, that of revival and recovery".
She said that moment would come "as soon as the institutions allow it ... very soon, in a few months at most". After defeats by ever narrower margins in the 2012, 2017 and 2022 elections, Ms Le Pen is viewed as having her best shot at the Elysee Palace when France next elects a president.
Mr Bayrou consulted Ms Le Pen when forming his government but there is no certainty he will avoid a no-confidence vote himself. Finance Minister Eric Lombard is expected to scale back some of the proposed budget cuts but made clear on Tuesday that he, too, sees cutting the deficit as a priority.
"The political situation is difficult,” said Mr Lombard. "The international situation is dangerous and the economic context is fragile. The environmental emergency, the social emergency, developing our businesses – these innumerable challenges require us to treat our endemic illness, the deficit."
Deadlock has prevailed since French President Emmanuel Macron called a surprise parliamentary election in July, a gamble which failed to pay off as voters elected a National Assembly fractured between left, right and centrist camps. Left-wing groups had hoped for more influence in the new Cabinet and say the promised spending cuts will hurt French workers.
Mr Macron's term runs until 2027 but some analysts believe Ms Le Pen wants to force him to resign quickly and trigger a snap presidential election. One consideration could be a looming court verdict in a corruption case against Ms Le Pen, in which prosecutors are seeking a five-year ban from public office – which she might avoid with presidential immunity.
Ms Le Pen wants a tougher immigration policy from the new government but Mr Bayrou indicated he will focus on implementing existing rules. "There are plenty of laws that exist. None are being applied," he told broadcasters on Monday, to criticism from conservatives.
At the justice ministry, Mr Darmanin said he would give "clear and firm" instructions to prosecutors to take on violent criminals and extremists. His targets include "Islamic separatism and types of violent extremism who want to attack our democracy and our republic", as well as drug trafficking and what he called "narco-banditry".
Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu wants to step up France's weapons production as Europe braces for the return of Donald Trump. Mr Macron also wants an emergency law passed early next month to speed up reconstruction of the cyclone-ravaged French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean.
The lowdown
Badla
Rating: 2.5/5
Produced by: Red Chillies, Azure Entertainment
Director: Sujoy Ghosh
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Amrita Singh, Tony Luke
The%20specs
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
The team
Videographer: Jear Velasquez
Photography: Romeo Perez
Fashion director: Sarah Maisey
Make-up: Gulum Erzincan at Art Factory
Models: Meti and Clinton at MMG
Video assistant: Zanong Maget
Social media: Fatima Al Mahmoud
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Emergency phone numbers in the UAE
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Godzilla%20x%20Kong%3A%20The%20New%20Empire
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAdam%20Wingard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBrian%20Tyree%20Henry%2C%20Rebecca%20Hall%2C%20Dan%20Stevens%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
