A political earthquake rattles France as Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces an unprecedented challenge to his leadership in the National Assembly.
According to The Wall Street Journal, the French government collapsed Wednesday after 331 lawmakers in the 577-seat National Assembly voted to remove Prime Minister Michel Barnier from office, marking the first such ouster in more than 50 years.
The historic vote reflects the deepening political crisis in France, where a fragmented parliament has struggled to find common ground on crucial financial reforms. This unprecedented development has left the eurozone's second-largest economy in a precarious position, with its public finances hanging in the balance.
The dramatic fall of Barnier's government stems from his proposed budget measures for 2025, which included 60 billion euros in spending cuts and tax increases. The plan aimed to address France's mounting deficit, currently projected at more than 6% of GDP, significantly exceeding the European Union's prescribed limit.
Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and leftist lawmakers united in opposition to Barnier's fiscal proposals. Their alliance proved decisive in bringing down the government, highlighting the growing polarization in French politics.
Before the decisive vote, Barnier addressed the assembly, where he stated:
Listen to me, this reality is here to stay, and it won't disappear by the magic of a motion of censure.
President Emmanuel Macron now faces limited options for resolving the crisis. Constitutional constraints prevent him from dissolving the National Assembly until July, leaving him to choose between keeping Barnier as a caretaker or appointing a new prime minister.
The political turmoil has already impacted financial markets, with French stocks declining and government debt premiums reaching levels not seen since the 2012 eurozone crisis. Investors express growing concern about the country's fiscal stability.
Le Pen, who leads the opposition, criticized Barnier's budget as harmful to working- and middle-class households. France Unbowed lawmaker Mathilde Panot declared:
Today is a historic day that sends out a powerful signal for the whole country: the only sovereign in a republic and a democracy is the people.
The crisis emerged following Macron's failed attempt to counter Le Pen's rising influence through snap elections, resulting in a hung parliament. The president's decision to appoint Barnier, a 73-year-old veteran politician and former EU Brexit negotiator, proved unsuccessful in building the necessary consensus.
Barnier's brief tenure was complicated by competing demands, including maintaining increased military spending amid the Ukraine war while managing tax cuts and subsidies implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and energy crisis.
The political standoff intensified when Le Pen issued specific demands regarding the budget, including opposition to electricity tax increases and changes to pension adjustments. While Barnier made some concessions, they proved insufficient to prevent his government's collapse.
The historic no-confidence vote that removed Prime Minister Michel Barnier represents a critical moment in French democracy, marking the first such successful motion since 1962. The development stems from deep disagreements over proposed budget measures and reflects the increasingly fractured nature of French politics. The immediate future of France's governance remains uncertain as President Macron must navigate limited options within constitutional constraints.
