French Government Falls After Historic No-Confidence Vote

The French government, led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier, was ousted Wednesday after far-left and far-right lawmakers united to pass a no-confidence vote against him and his Cabinet. This marks the first time since 1962 that a French government has been removed in such a manner, plunging France into political uncertainty.

Barnier, who served as prime minister for just three months, is now required to submit his resignation to French President Emmanuel Macron. The motion, which required 299 votes to pass, garnered 331 votes in the lower house of Parliament, with Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally aligning with the leftist New Popular Front coalition to secure the result.

“In a republic, only the people are sovereign,” declared Mathilde Panot, leader of the radical left France Unbowed parliamentary group, following the historic vote.

Barnier, appointed by Macron in September, had acknowledged the possibility of his government’s collapse ahead of the vote. “It will remain an honor for me to have served France and the French with dignity,” he stated before the decision was finalized.

The political turmoil adds significant pressure on President Macron, who, under the French system, is responsible for appointing prime ministers approved by Parliament. However, Macron faces challenges in assembling a stable government, as no single party holds a majority in the legislative body, which is currently split among three main blocs: Macron’s centrist allies, the left-wing New Popular Front coalition, and the far-right National Rally.

The French president cannot dissolve Parliament until next year, leaving him with limited options, including reappointing Barnier, selecting a successor, or forming a temporary technocratic government, all of which would remain vulnerable to another no-confidence vote.

Political analyst Douglas Webber, an emeritus professor at INSEAD in Paris, warned that Macron’s inability to secure majority support could lead to increasing pressure for his resignation. Macron is expected to address the nation on Thursday regarding the unfolding crisis.

The no-confidence vote was driven by disagreements over Barnier’s fiscal policies aimed at addressing France’s soaring budget deficit. In the aftermath of the pandemic, Barnier proposed cutting €40 billion ($42 billion) in spending and raising taxes by €20 billion, uniting typically opposing blocs against his measures.

“We are straight in our political approach. We defend the French people,” Le Pen remarked earlier in the week, emphasizing the National Rally’s stance.

This political upheaval reflects broader instability across Europe, where far-right populists and nationalists are gaining traction amid public discontent over rising post-pandemic costs and immigration. Barnier’s ousting adds to the growing list of European governments grappling with political and economic challenges.