Paris, December 5, 2024 – The Europe Today: In an unprecedented move, French lawmakers voted on Wednesday to oust Prime Minister Michel Barnier, plunging the country into deeper political turmoil just three months after his appointment.
For the first time in over 60 years, the National Assembly passed a no-confidence motion, backed by 331 members of the 577-seat chamber. The motion, proposed by the hard-left, gained crucial support from the far-right led by Marine Le Pen.
The political upheaval follows snap parliamentary elections this summer, which resulted in a hung parliament with no clear majority and left the far-right holding decisive sway over the government’s survival.
A Divisive Budget Battle
The no-confidence motion stemmed from outrage over Barnier’s decision to force through a controversial social security financing bill without a vote, as part of next year’s austerity budget.
National Assembly Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet confirmed Barnier’s dismissal, stating he would now be required to submit his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron’s Challenge
The decision leaves President Macron with the difficult task of appointing a successor, as his presidency continues for over two more years. With new elections prohibited within a year of last summer’s vote, Macron must navigate the hung parliament’s fractures to stabilize governance.
Returning to Paris from a state visit to Saudi Arabia just hours before the vote, Macron accused the far-right of “unbearable cynicism” in backing the motion. Laurent Wauquiez, head of right-wing deputies, condemned the far-right and hard-left for creating instability.
Mounting Social Unrest
The political crisis comes as unions prepare for widespread public-sector strikes on Thursday, protesting proposed cost-cutting measures. Teachers, air traffic controllers, and civil servants are expected to participate, threatening to disrupt schools, flights, and rail services.
Markets remain jittery, and the political impasse is raising concerns about France’s economic stability.
Upcoming Challenges
Amid the domestic turmoil, Macron is scheduled to host the grand reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral on Saturday, with international dignitaries, including U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, in attendance.
French daily Libération captured the growing discontent with the headline “His Failure” alongside an image of Macron, whose mandate runs until 2027.
As speculation swirls about Macron’s ability to govern effectively, calls for bold political moves continue, but the president has dismissed suggestions of his own resignation as “political fiction.”
