French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is expected to resign today, hours after being ousted in a vote of no confidence.
Barnier’s government collapsed after MPs voted overwhelmingly in favor of a motion against him, just three months after he was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron.
The prime minister will likely continue as caretaker while Mr. Macron chooses his successor, a process that could take several weeks.
Last night’s vote was the first time a French government has been voted down by parliament in more than 60 years.
Marine Le Pen’s far-right party and the left-wing New Popular Front were both united in criticizing Barnier’s government after the former Brexit negotiator controversially used special powers to force through his budget without voting.
A total of 331 people voted in favor of the proposal, far more than the 288 needed for it to pass.
Barnier is now obliged to submit his resignation to his government, while the budget that caused his collapse will be automatically withdrawn.
Macron, who has returned to France after a state visit to Saudi Arabia, is expected to give a televised address to the nation on Thursday evening.
The President is constitutionally unaffected by Barnier’s resignation. But many opposition politicians are increasingly open about wanting to force him to resign and calling for early presidential elections – something Mr Macron insists is unlikely.
The left-wing coalition New Popular Front (NFP), the party that won the most seats in the parliamentary election, had previously criticized The decision to appoint Barnier follows Macron’s moderate approach as prime minister instead of his own candidate.
Next to far-right national protest (RN)they say Barnier’s budget – which includes €60bn (£49bn) to reduce the deficit – is unacceptable.
Marine Le Pen, RN leader, said the budget was “toxic for the French”.
Before the vote, Barnier told Congress that voting to remove him from office would not solve the country’s financial problems.
“We have reached a moment of truth, of responsibility,” he said, adding that “we need to look at the reality of our debt.”
“I hardly introduce difficult measures just because I want to.”
In an interview with French broadcaster TF1 on Wednesday, Le Pen said there was “no other solution” than removing Barnier.
When asked about the French presidency’s prospects, she replied: “I am not asking for Emmanuel Macron’s resignation.”
However, many of her allies are increasingly openly hoping they can force him to resign. RN advisor Philippe Olivier told Le Monde that the president is “a fallen republican king, advancing with an open shirt and a rope around his neck until the next dissolution”. [of parliament]”.
No new parliamentary elections can be held until July, so the current deadlock in Congress – where no group can hope to win a working majority – will continue. custom.
