Emmanuel Macron Photo: Thibault Camus (AP)
On Wednesday, the French parliament voted to dismiss the minority government headed by Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who had been in power for only three months. This is the first time such a decision has been made in the country since 1962, which is another blow to the political stability of the EU’s second largest economy.
After a lengthy debate that lasted more than three hours, 331 of the 577 members of the National Assembly voted in favour of the no-confidence motion. The motion was initiated by the left-wing forces and the right-wing radical National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen.
Reasons for resignation and consequences
The key reason for the political crisis was the austerity budget proposed by Barnier. In order to bypass parliament, the prime minister used special powers to approve part of the 2025 budget, which caused outrage among the opposition.
Barnier is now obliged to submit his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron. The president, who has just returned from a state visit to Saudi Arabia, must appoint a new prime minister, but according to the constitution, new parliamentary elections cannot be held within a year of the last vote in July.
Economic challenges
France is facing significant economic challenges, including a budget deficit that requires €60 billion annually to pay interest on its debt. These costs exceed the country’s budgets for defence or higher education.
Barnier, known for his experience in Brexit negotiations, stressed the importance of the budget as a stabilisation tool in his farewell speech, but his arguments failed to convince parliamentarians.
Political deadlock in Europe
The French government’s resignation comes amid a political crisis in Germany, which also lost its government last month. Now the two leading Eurozone economies are facing internal turmoil, which could affect the stability of the EU as a whole.
Radicals call for Macron’s resignation
Immediately after the vote, the radical left-wing party La France Insoumise (Insubordinate France) called on President Emmanuel Macron to resign. Matilde Panot, the party’s leader in the National Assembly, called for early presidential elections.
However, according to the Constitution, Macron’s position, whose mandate will last until 2027, does not depend on the resignation of the government.
France is on the verge of new political uncertainty, which, according to analysts, could complicate the resolution of economic and social challenges.
