Le collapse du government: French PM Michel Barnier resigns after losing confidence vote
5 December 2024, 14:14 | Updated: 5 December 2024, 15:17
Michel Barnier has submitted his resignation as France's prime minister.
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The politician lost a vote of no-confidence in his government yesterday that was called after he used special powers to force through a budget without a vote.
He headed to the Elysee Palace this morning, leaving after an hour-long meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Barnier and his government will stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new prime minister is nominated, the Elysee said in a statement.
Macron must now pick Barnier's successor to serve along side him over the remaining two years of his presidential term.
But no new legislative elections can be held until at least July, creating a potential stalemate for policymakers.
It comes after Barnier forced through a social security financing bill without a vote.
His austerity budget for next year also drew widespread backlash from the both right and left-wing parties.
The hard left launched the no-confidence motion due to the austerity measures in next year's budget.
A 331 MP majority in the 577-member chamber voted to oust the government. The National Assembly, France’s lower house of parliament, is deeply fractured, with no single party holding a majority.
It comprises three major blocs: Macron’s centrist allies; the left-wing coalition New Popular Front; and the far-right National Rally.
As many as 123 MPs from Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party voted for the left-wing New Popular Alliance's motion.
Le Pen said after the vote that MPs "had a choice to make, and our choice is to protect the French" from a “toxic” budget.
Read more: Barnier ousted as France’s prime minister after losing vote of no confidence
She also accused Macron of being “largely responsible for the current situation”, adding that “the pressure on the president of the Republic will get stronger and stronger”.
In a final speech before the confidence vote, Barnier said: "I can tell you that it will remain an honour for me to have served France and the French with dignity”.
“This no-confidence motion … will make everything more serious and more difficult. That’s what I’m sure of.”
Barnier is the first French prime minister in 60 years to lose a no confidence vote. He held the position for the shortest time in the country's history, resigning after just three months.
He was voted in after a snap election in summer resulted in a hung parliament.
It comes as thousands of public sector workers took to the streets of France today as the political unrest continued.
Protesters took to the streets across Marseille and Paris calling for "quality public service" - the latter saw protestors march across the capital.
