French Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces no-confidence vote – what happens next?
French Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces no-confidence vote – what happens next?
Prime Minister Michel Barnier, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron just 90 days ago, is set to face a vote of no-confidence in the French National Assembly today at 19:00 (18:00 GMT). If, as anticipated, the vote passes, Barnier's government will collapse, making him the shortest-serving French prime minister since 1958.
Barnier, the former EU Brexit negotiator, has been under pressure since his appointment following the political uncertainty of inconclusive snap parliamentary elections. His government has relied on either the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) or the far-right National Rally (RN) to pass legislation. However, both factions have been staunchly opposed to him from the start.
The trigger for this no-confidence vote came on Monday when Barnier used special presidential powers to push through his 2025 budget without the support of parliament. This move angered both the NFP and RN, leading them to table no-confidence motions.
Barnier’s government has been precariously balanced since his appointment, requiring cross-party support to govern. However, despite multiple concessions, neither the NFP nor RN backed his budget, prompting him to bypass parliament with special powers.
With the no-confidence vote set to pass, Barnier is likely to be asked to remain as a caretaker prime minister while Macron searches for a replacement. Finding a successor could take weeks, as it did when Macron faced difficulties appointing Barnier earlier in the year.
The French constitution prevents new elections within a year of the last one, so a quick resolution is unlikely. Macron, who is currently on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, has insisted that he still believes the Barnier government can survive, emphasizing the importance of national interests over party politics. However, with the government’s collapse imminent, many are now calling for Macron himself to resign, though he has rejected those demands, pledging to serve his full term until 2027.
