In a significant political upheaval, the French government has collapsed following a no-confidence vote that ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier. This decision came just three months after Barnier’s appointment by President Emmanuel Macron. The motion, overwhelmingly supported by MPs, was initiated by opposition parties in response to Barnier’s controversial use of special powers to pass his budget without a vote.
This marks a historic moment, as it is the first government collapse due to a no-confidence vote in France since 1962. The current political landscape remains unstable, exacerbated by snap elections earlier this summer that resulted in no single party holding a parliamentary majority. A total of 331 MPs voted in favor of the motion, surpassing the 288 votes required for it to pass.
With Barnier’s resignation now inevitable, the budget that triggered this political crisis is rendered void. He is expected to remain in a caretaker role while Macron selects a successor. Both the left-wing New Popular Front and the far-right National Rally condemned Barnier’s budget, with RN leader Marine Le Pen labeling it “toxic for the French.” Barnier, in his defense, stated, “Voting me out of office will not solve the country’s financial problems.”
