As expected, the majority of the French National Assembly members supported the motion of no confidence against Michel Barnier’s government. The motion was passed with 331 votes. During the heated debate preceding the vote, representatives of the left-wing parties and Marine Le Pen’s far-right party backed the motion, while members of the so-called presidential majority supporting Emmanuel Macron, along with the Republican party, opposed it. The debate was highly intense, marked by frequent interruptions and jeers at the speakers. Members of the ruling coalition accused the opposition of forming an “unholy alliance” between the far-right and the left, while opposition representatives argued that Barnier’s government’s fall was inevitable.
Michel Barnier himself, speaking to the Assembly, emphasized that “the time for truth and responsibility has come” and warned of the country’s public debt, noting that France spends €60 billion annually on interest payments—more than its defense and education budgets combined. “I would like to be able to spend more, but the country’s fiscal situation will not vanish after the motion of no confidence,” Barnier stated.
Following today’s vote, Michel Barnier is expected to submit his resignation to President Macron, who has already returned to Paris after a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia. According to journalistic sources, the French president plans to announce Barnier’s successor within the next 24 hours. If so, this will mark the fourth prime minister France has seen this year. The major question is whether the new prime minister will face the same fate as Michel Barnier and, most importantly, whether they will manage to prepare France’s 2025 state budget before the end of 2024.
Radical left calls for Macron’s resignation
The radical left-wing party “France Unbowed” (LFI) has tonight demanded the resignation of President Emmanuel Macron following the National Assembly’s vote of no confidence against Michel Barnier’s government.
Mathilde Panot, head of the LFI parliamentary group, called for “Emmanuel Macron to step down,” demanding “early presidential elections.”
Macron’s term, which ends in 2027, is not directly tied to Barnier’s government collapse.
Macron to address the nation today at 9 PM (Cyprus time)
President Emmanuel Macron will address the French people tomorrow at 9 PM (Greek time), the Élysée Palace announced tonight, following the outcome of the National Assembly vote that led to Michel Barnier’s government being voted out.
In the aftermath of the vote, Marine Le Pen, head of the far-right National Rally parliamentary group, urged the French president to take responsibility, though she did not explicitly call for his resignation. Instead, she indicated her intention to allow the new prime minister to work towards achieving a state budget acceptable to all.
In contrast, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the left-wing France Unbowed party, called for Emmanuel Macron’s resignation, stating, “Even if he appoints a Michel Barnier every three months as prime minister, he will not manage to stay as President of the Republic for the next three years.”
On the other hand, Socialist Party Secretary Olivier Faure did not raise the issue of Macron’s resignation. Instead, he urged Macron to listen to the French people and appoint a prime minister from the left-wing political spectrum.
Also read: Christodoulides to upgrade Cyprus-France agreement with Macron
Photo source: BBC
Source: ANA-MPA
