French Prime Minister Michel Barnier has said it is “possible” he will survive a vote of no confidence in his minority government.
Opposition parties have launched a motion to oust the former Brexit negotiator after that he used special powers to implement his budget without a vote.
In an interview with French TV channels on Tuesday, Barnier admitted his guilt before the public, saying he remained open to budget talks with the opposition despite widespread predictions that he would lose the vote.
He also tried to distance himself from France’s state of political instability, saying he was not wrong.
The prime minister of France also rejected the idea that President Emmanuel Macron should resign to solve the current crisis in the country, calling him a “guarantee of stability”.
In an interview with TF1 and France 2 television channels, Barnier said: “It is not a question of political survival for me.
“I have been in this office for three months. I arrived there on September 5, and I told myself that I could leave the next morning,” he added.
“This is the first time since 1958 that there is no majority at all. There is not much that can happen between the three major parties. I know this is a fragile and permanent situation.”
France has been plagued by political uncertainty since Macron was named snap elections in the summer that resulted in a hung parliament where no party has an absolute majority.
While the left-wing coalition won the majority of seats, Macron appointed Barnier who was involved in an attempt to restore stability.
But his government has been underestimated because it does not have a majority.
On Monday, Barnier opted to move into controversial social security reforms with a presidential decree after failing to garner enough support for the measures.
The budget bill sought to deliver €60bn (£49bn) in tax rises and spending cuts.
But Barnier was forced to allow the reforms demanded by critics due to lack of a majority in parliament.
He is now expected to become the longest-serving prime minister of France’s Fifth Republic, and the left-wing party in the National Assembly, as well as the far-right, have predicted they will support a motion against him.
If he does not survive the vote, he will remain in his position as prime minister until Macron announces a new government.
While Macron – who is on a trip to Saudi Arabia – has reportedly begun to consider his choice of the next prime minister, the process could take weeks, as it happened in the summer.
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