France’s Socialists have cancelled a round of budget talks scheduled for Tuesday evening following controversial statements by French Prime Minister François Bayrou on migration, a party spokeswoman confirmed to dpa.
Bayrou must fear for the support of the Socialists in parliament needed for his minority government, after saying in a Monday interview that there was a growing feeling that immigrants were “flooding” France.
The budget negotiations have been suspended for the time being in response to Bayrou’s comments, the spokeswoman said.
The leader of the Socialist faction, Boris Vallaud, has accused the prime minister of using a term used by the far right.
Bayrou’s centre-right government does not have an absolute majority in the National Assembly. If the premier alienates the Socialists, his government could collapse in the course of the budget debate.
It is still too early to say what will be done, said Socialist lawmaker Laurent Baumel. However, if there is no movement, it is possible that the Socialists will vote in favour of a vote of no confidence against the government, he said.
Bayrou survived a first vote of no confidence earlier this month after the Socialists and Marine Le Pen’s right-wing nationalists decided to tolerate his cabinet.
Bayrou’s predecessor Michel Barnier was toppled by France’s left-wing camp and the right-wing nationalists in December amid the dispute over the austerity budget.
