Description: Jordan Bardella, the president of France’s Far – Right National Rally (RN) party has announced that screening processes for lawmakers and intense background checks were being conducted as the party geared up for snap elections. The political upheaval arrives after Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, announced the government’s plan to call a confidence vote scheduled for 08 Sep, regarding his proposal for strict budget cuts, widely opposed by France’s entire political establishment. The confidence vote is expected to fail as Bayrou met with party leaders in France this week who have expressed their disapproval of his fiscal policies and were reluctant to negotiate. President Emmanuel Macron would be left with three difficult choices after 08 Sep, to leave Bayrou in a caretaking capacity for a limited period of time, appoint a new Prime Minister or call snap elections. Macron has rejected previous attempts by other parties to call for snap elections and Bayrou is the second Prime Minister facing scrutiny over domestic fiscal policies.
Impact: Europe’s second largest economy is facing growing pressure stemming from Bayrou’s decision to introduce strict budget cuts. President Macron despite facing internal pressure to call snap elections would most probably attempt to steer the crisis away by either appointing an alternative Prime Minister or leave Bayrou in a caretaking capacity. The rise of the far – right National Rally party and especially their personnel restructuring indicates that France would most probably transform its political architecture in the next couple of years. The possibility for snap elections, which Macron would aim to avoid persists, as opting for appointing another Prime Minister or leaving the unpopular Bayrou in caretaking capacity risks inciting civil unrest and wider opposition which could plunge France into a protracted political crisis.