Le Pen announces support for all no-confidence motions until early elections in France

PARIS

Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN) party's parliamentary group in France’s National Assembly, said Wednesday that she would support all no-confidence motions against future governments until the chamber is dissolved and early elections are called.

Speaking in Cournon-d’Auvergne in central France, Le Pen commented on the deepening government crisis following Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s resignation this week. She said she expected either dissolution of the parliament or the resignation of President Emmanuel Macron.

"I am waiting for dissolution or for Macron to resign. Either one is fine with me. I am not very demanding, but one or the other must happen. The choice is the president’s," she said.

Le Pen criticized the government for "playing for time," saying the French people are being distracted while the political crisis continues. "Enough is enough; the joke has gone on long enough," she added.

She also welcomed the possibility of suspending the unpopular pension reform that gradually raises the retirement age to 64, but insisted that early elections remain the only solution.

RN politicians have previously called for the dissolution of the National Assembly and early general elections.

Budget disputes have caused months of instability in France. After losing no-confidence votes over fiscal reforms, successive governments led by Michel Barnier and Francois Bayrou collapsed. Lecornu took office on October 5. He resigned the following day, under pressure.