Michel Barnier resigns as french prime minister after no-confidence vote
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier has tendered his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron following the successful passage of a no-confidence vote against his government. The vote, spurred by controversy over Barnier’s austerity budget, marks a historic moment as the first successful no-confidence motion in France since 1962.
The controversial budget
Barnier’s decision to bypass parliamentary approval for the 2025 budget using an uncommon constitutional mechanism triggered widespread dissent. His plan proposed €40 billion in spending cuts and €20 billion in tax hikes, aiming to ensure stability amid political divisions. However, the austerity measures faced backlash, uniting opposition forces from Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and the leftist New Popular Front.
The no-confidence motion gained 331 votes, surpassing the required 288, and automatically nullified Barnier’s proposed budget. With this, Barnier becomes France’s shortest-serving prime minister in modern history.
Un honneur d’avoir servi avec dignité la France et les Français. pic.twitter.com/BGe5gopVDF
— Michel Barnier (@MichelBarnier) December 4, 2024
Macron faces political turmoil
President Macron is now tasked with appointing a new prime minister capable of navigating a fractured National Assembly. Speaking to the nation, Macron emphasized his commitment to serving until 2027 and vowed to stabilize the political crisis.
Marine Le Pen criticized Barnier for targeting pensioners and hinted that Macron’s presidency would face intensified scrutiny. However, she affirmed her willingness to cooperate with the next administration in drafting a more acceptable budget.
Potential successors
The next prime minister will need to address deep political divisions. Leading candidates include:
- Sébastien Lecornu, Defense Minister with ties to National Rally.
- François Bayrou, centrist MoDem leader and Macron ally.
- François Barouin, a former finance minister with broad political appeal.
- Lucie Castets, a leftist economist favored by the opposition coalition.
Macron’s choice will signal his strategy for balancing competing political forces and rebuilding trust in a polarized Assembly.
