(Bloomberg) -- Prime Minister Michel Barnier warned that France has reached its “moment of truth,” as far-right leader Marine Le Pen is set to join a left-wing coalition to topple his government as soon as this week.Most Read from BloombergAs Wars Rage, Cities Face a Dark New Era of Urban DestructionRiyadh Metro Partially Opens in Bid to Ease City’s Traffic JamsSubscribe to the Bloomberg Daybreak podcast on Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen.Le Pen’s National Rally as well as a leftist
Will the EU send in the equivalent of the National Guard to run things for them until they get on their feet?
Is there an EU plan for this kind of thing? Do they kick them out? Help them? Stand and watch? Point and laugh?
No, France will just elect a new government. This isn’t unusual for parliamentary systems. Belgium was without a government for 589 days starting in 2010.
The is that there are three blocks in a system designed for 2.
This means no possibility of a majority that is required to pass a budget.
The current government is essentially the middle between the Far right and the right, which may not hold because that would mean the far right has to admit they’re not that different (same economics, more racism) from the right wing everyone hates.
The left wing alone is not large enough to have a majority and can’t ally with the right wing because the right wing won’t budge on tax increases for the or more public support for the poor.
I was just looking at it from the stance that as members of the EU they are in a relationship to their “Federal” government that kind of parallels the relationship of a state to the US federal government. You know, no power to make war, money, decide their own immigration rules, restrict travel from member states/countries, etc.
And if we had a state government that was breaking down like France is, they wouldn’t get to sit around without a government for 589 days. At least I don’t think so, I don’t believe we’ve ever had things be that screwy before.
Anyhow, it’s really complex and I hope the French work things out.
Yeah but the relationship isn’t like that. They do have control over those things (though there are some limits as part of being an EU member).
I’m sorry what?
If you don’t get it, it’s probably not meant for you. Just move along.
I’m sorry, explain to me what we need the EU to send the national guard (what does it even mean) for… a vote of non-confidence?
Oh, you’re French? Then DEFINITELY never mind. You guys are fine, pay me no attention. Do your French thing.
Under parliamentary systems the ruling coalition is called the government. The liberals have fucked up majorly and repeatedly so their “government” is collapsing.
France isn’t about to become a failed state, they’re going to get a new power bloc in control of their legislative branch.
The EU is not a federal state.
Its an international organization with sovereign independent States as members. Not ‘federal states’ like US or German states or ‘countries’ like Wales and Scotland that are part of the UK.
It has more in common with the UN than the USA or Germany.
The EU doesn’t do anything in such cases because the members did not agree to allow it to play a part in such matters. EU powers are delegated to it by members.
The EU can’t kick someone out, they also can’t prevent anybody leaving.
There are national armies, they do not answer to EU officials, I doubt they swear to uphold and defend EU law or the treaty of Lisbon, when I was conscripted we swore to uphold our nation’s constitution, laws and morals.
There are some EU task forced (similar to NATO task forces) that deploy under EU decisions, they would definitely not follow EU commands versus their own country’s (they are mixed at unit level not individuals).
You have a deeply wrong understanding of the EU to the point where you cannot meaningly criticize it or even roast it.
Huh, can it really not? I never thought about it, but is this a case of it being specifically defined to not be able to, or is it more like there being no such procedure or precedent, where it might happen when a true need arises?
There is no provision to expel a member, it was considered in drafts for the treaty of Lisbon but not included.
It’s possible to suspend members’ voting rights but it requires an unanimous vote of the European council (sans the target member who can’t vote).
In what way would it just happen? The treaties do not allow it, amending the treaties would require an unanimous vote, trying to circumvent would cause any of the non top members (pop or economy wise) to gtfo asap.
Well thank you very much. They seem to have considerably more power than the UN. They print money, regulate industry, levy fines and penalties, and require action from members (accepting refugees), so your explanation is not great, but I’m obviously not understanding the EU’s true form.
I’m not sure you’re aware of how much power they have consolidated while assuring you you are a sovereign, independent state. Which just seems to mean yes, they won’t help if you need it.
The WTO can levy fines and penalties as well, I guess they are a state. The UN also requires compliance with various treaties from it’s members (including accepting refugees). Some EU members can be argued to be easier to whipped into compliance due to EU funds being critical to their level of living. Of course the IMF also has had a lot of leverage over poor countries, even EU ones.
The EU does not have an army, or even a federal police force to enforce compliance in member states. It can only try to coax compliance by withholding funds and other benefits. Contrast this to Little Rock Nine, where the US government sent it’s own army (EU doesn’t have one) and was able to take control of the Arkansas NG from it’s government. The EU cannot do this. Especially not to fucking France.
They have been granted power in a lot of fields, including trade and human rights. It would not be a problem for my country to leave the EU, the issues would be the lack of market access. Your second sentence makes even less sense than usual, what help? Is that what you would call “the EU” (aka foreigners) sending their non-existent troops to run things? No thanks mate.
Thank you. My original question WAS a question. You answered it.
Appreciate you.
You are welcome.
The EU is a complicated thing. It’s certainly the most integrated international organization and pushes the envelope so to speak. It’s also portrayed as a equivalent to a state quite often, whether for practical (an easy if inaccurate analog) or even ideological (EU federalists) reasons.
Also France is not in particular trouble at least in regards to it’s ability to function. At most legislative elections will be needed.
Nothing exist for that because EU has no role to play in these internals affairs.
Each country is autonomous in the way they gouverns, vote, etc…
The EU promulgate agreed rules than became laws in each countries that all. We have also different level of cooperation and agreement across the countries and near countries.
But all these EU countries keep their own sovereignty.