French President Emmanuel Macron is set to address the nation on Thursday evening, one day after Prime Minister Michel Barnier was ousted in a historic no-confidence vote. According to the presidency, Barnier has resigned from his role but will continue to serve in a caretaker capacity until a new government is appointed.
Several potential candidates for the next prime minister are circulating, including Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, and former presidential candidate François Bayrou. However, reaching a consensus on a new leader could take time, as was the case during the summer, when former PM Gabriel Attal held the role of caretaker for two months.
Barnier’s government was voted down by parliament just three months after his appointment by Macron, marking the first time in over 60 years that a French government was ousted via a no-confidence motion. The motion was supported by 331 votes, far exceeding the 288 needed for it to pass. It was driven by opposition from the far-right National Rally (RN) and the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP), both of which criticized Barnier’s decision to use special powers to bypass parliamentary approval for his budget.
Following the vote, Barnier presented his resignation, and the budget that led to his downfall was withdrawn. Despite Barnier’s departure, Macron remains unaffected constitutionally, though opposition leaders are increasingly vocal about their desire for him to resign and call early presidential elections—a scenario Macron has ruled out.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the RN, expressed that the only “dignified solution” was to oppose Barnier’s budget, which she deemed “toxic for the French.” The left-wing NFP, which had previously opposed Macron’s choice of Barnier as prime minister, joined the far-right in rejecting the budget, which aimed for €60bn in deficit reduction.
Barnier, in his final address to the National Assembly, emphasized the need for fiscal responsibility and warned that removing him would not resolve France’s financial challenges.
While many opposition members are pressing for Macron’s resignation, especially following Barnier’s fall, Macron has firmly resisted calls for early elections. The political deadlock in the Assembly, where no party holds a clear majority, is expected to persist until the next parliamentary elections in July.
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