French opposition lawmakers ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government through a no-confidence vote, with 331 votes in favor, deepening France’s political crisis, Reuters reports.
Right and left-wing parties united against Barnier after he invoked special constitutional powers to bypass parliament on an austerity budget aimed at reducing the deficit by 60 billion euros ($63.07 billion). This marked the first French government collapse from a confidence vote since 1962. Barnier is expected to resign, leaving President Emmanuel Macron to appoint a new prime minister, but no new parliamentary elections can occur before July 2024.
The political crisis stems from Macron’s polarizing snap election in June, which resulted in a fragmented legislature. The divided parliament struggles to pass legislation and France risks entering 2025 without an approved budget. Stopgap measures or decrees might temporarily extend the 2024 budget, but jurists warn of potential legal challenges.
Opposition leaders like Marine Le Pen and the far-left France Unbowed demand Macron’s resignation, claiming his leadership has failed. However, Macron has shown no inclination to step down, opting to stabilize governance with either a caretaker government or cross-party negotiations.
