French Government Faces No-Confidence Motion on Extreme Heatwave Response
Political Fallout and Public Health Impact of the June Heatwave
No-Confidence Motion Filed by Green Party
PARIS, July 2 (Reuters) - French Green party lawmakers on Thursday filed a no-confidence motion against the government over its handling of a severe heatwave in late June, as the country braces for a third possible bout of extreme temperatures next week.
Support and Expected Discussion
The motion, backed by 32 Green lawmakers, 25 hard-left France Unbowed lawmakers and one Socialist lawmaker, was expected to be discussed at the National Assembly on July 6, a spokesperson for the Green party at the National Assembly told Reuters.
Government Stability and Political Reactions
- The bid to topple Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's minority government is unlikely to succeed.
- The National Rally has already said it will not back the motion. The Socialists have not supported any of the no-confidence motions filed against Lecornu since he took office last year.
- Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said on Wednesday ahead of the motion's filing: "There is a government managing the crisis and there are political forces fueling the crisis by introducing the motion."
Heatwave Conditions and Health Consequences
Temperature Trends and Forecasts
- Though temperatures have started to drop from record-high levels, they are still around 30 degrees Celsius (86°F) in much of the country and are expected to rise again at the weekend, national weather forecaster Meteo France has said.
Excess Deaths and Official Statements
- France has recorded at least 1,000 excess deaths during the blistering heatwave that has swept Europe since June 20, the public health agency said on Sunday, warning that the true figure was likely to be higher.
Political Accountability and Disputed Figures
- During questions at the National Assembly on Tuesday, Cyriele Chatelain, who leads the Green party at the National Assembly, said the government bore some responsibility for the deaths during the heatwave.
- Some Green lawmakers have suggested that as many as 10,000 people may have died in the heatwave, which Lecornu angrily challenged as "scandalous" and "undignified".
(Reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Elizabetg Pineau)
