In a dramatic turn of events, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier has been kicked out of office after losing a no-confidence vote in the French Parliament. This marks a historic moment, as it’s only the second time in France’s history that a government has been removed in such a way. What makes this even more surprising is that both the left-wing and right-wing political groups teamed up to vote against Barnier, causing him to lose the support of the National Assembly.
The no-confidence motion required 288 votes to succeed, but it blew past that number with 331 votes from lawmakers across the political spectrum. On one side, there was the left-wing New Popular Front (NPF), and on the other, the right-wing National Rally (RN). The two groups, typically rivals, came together in a rare alliance to oust Barnier’s government, which had been struggling to hold onto power.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, explained the decision, saying it was made to protect the French people, although she did not consider it a victory. According to Le Pen, there was no other choice but to remove Barnier’s government. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the NPF’s largest party, also voiced his opinion, calling the result “inevitable.” He even demanded that French President Emmanuel Macron resign, claiming that no matter how often Macron reshuffles his cabinet, the government’s problems will continue.
The downfall of Barnier’s government comes after President Macron appointed him as prime minister just a few months ago, in September. This decision upset the NPF, which had won the most seats in the parliament in recent elections. Macron had made a deal with the NPF, sidelining the right-wing RN, only to go back on his word and form a minority government with the tacit backing of the RN.
The real tipping point came when Barnier proposed a plan to cut €40 billion in government spending and raise €20 billion in new taxes to address France’s massive deficit. This plan did not sit well with the RN, who threatened to bring down the government unless their demands were met. Le Pen accused Barnier of being stubborn and refusing to listen to their concerns. She gave Barnier a deadline to make changes, but the budget minister, Laurent Saint-Martin, rejected the ultimatum.
While Barnier’s removal marks a historic moment in French politics, he is likely to stay in the role of caretaker prime minister until Macron appoints a new one. This could take some time—after July’s parliamentary election, it took Macron nearly two months to choose Barnier in the first place. However, another vote to oust the government isn’t possible until at least a year from now, according to the French constitution.
This shocking turn of events has left many wondering about the future of France’s political landscape. Can Macron hold on to power? Will the left and right continue to unite against his government? One thing is certain: French politics has never been more unpredictable.
