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Sarkozy faces no-confidence vote Sarkozy faces no-confidence vote
(about 1 hour later)
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is facing a vote of confidence over his decision to return France to Nato's integrated military command. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is facing a vote of no-confidence over his decision to return France to Nato's integrated military command.
Opposition critics and some among Mr Sarkozy's UMP party say the move will weaken French independence from the US.Opposition critics and some among Mr Sarkozy's UMP party say the move will weaken French independence from the US.
But correspondents say that by making the vote one of confidence, Mr Sarkozy is highly unlikely to lose, because the UMP will rally behind him.But correspondents say that by making the vote one of confidence, Mr Sarkozy is highly unlikely to lose, because the UMP will rally behind him.
The party has a substantial majority in both houses of the French parliament.The party has a substantial majority in both houses of the French parliament.
Mr Sarkozy announced the major policy shift last week, reversing a decision made in 1966 by the late President Charles de Gaulle.Mr Sarkozy announced the major policy shift last week, reversing a decision made in 1966 by the late President Charles de Gaulle.
France is already among the top five contributors to Nato operations and currently has some 3,000 troops in Afghanistan, where it has suffered significant losses.France is already among the top five contributors to Nato operations and currently has some 3,000 troops in Afghanistan, where it has suffered significant losses.
'Deep misgivings''Deep misgivings'
Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Francois Fillon wrote to opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate offering to submit his government to a confidence motion after a debate over France's relations with Nato.Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Francois Fillon wrote to opposition leaders in the National Assembly and Senate offering to submit his government to a confidence motion after a debate over France's relations with Nato.
France is already among the top five contributors to Nato operations Q&A: France and NatoFrance ends four-decade Nato riftFrench face tough Afghan realityFrance is already among the top five contributors to Nato operations Q&A: France and NatoFrance ends four-decade Nato riftFrench face tough Afghan reality
President Sarkozy subsequently formally announced in a speech last Thursday that he wanted France to rejoin Nato's military command.President Sarkozy subsequently formally announced in a speech last Thursday that he wanted France to rejoin Nato's military command.
He said there was no sense in France - a founder member of Nato - having no say in the organisation's decisions on military strategy.He said there was no sense in France - a founder member of Nato - having no say in the organisation's decisions on military strategy.
"This rapprochement with Nato ensures our national independence," he told experts at the Ecole Militaire in Paris. "To distance ourselves would limit our independence and our room for manoeuvre.""This rapprochement with Nato ensures our national independence," he told experts at the Ecole Militaire in Paris. "To distance ourselves would limit our independence and our room for manoeuvre."
Mr Sarkozy hopes to formalise the move before France and Germany host Nato's 60th anniversary summit in Strasbourg next month.Mr Sarkozy hopes to formalise the move before France and Germany host Nato's 60th anniversary summit in Strasbourg next month.
The prime minister is to address the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon, followed by a debate, with the no-confidence vote is expected later in the evening.The prime minister is to address the National Assembly on Tuesday afternoon, followed by a debate, with the no-confidence vote is expected later in the evening.
But the BBC's Alasdair Sandford in Paris says that despite criticism from politicians on both sides, a government defeat is highly unlikely.But the BBC's Alasdair Sandford in Paris says that despite criticism from politicians on both sides, a government defeat is highly unlikely.
Even so, the debate is likely to expose deep misgivings about the future direction of French foreign policy, he adds.Even so, the debate is likely to expose deep misgivings about the future direction of French foreign policy, he adds.