French Prime Minister Michael Barnier ousted in no-confidence vote

In a rare alliance, French far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined forces to launch a no-confidence motion over a budget dispute, leading to the forced resignation of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. The National Assembly passed the motion with 331 votes in favor, surpassing the required minimum of 288.

Despite this, President Emmanuel Macron has insisted that he will continue to serve his term until 2027. However, following the deeply fractured parliament resulting from the legislative elections in July, he will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time.

Barnier invoked a rare constitutional mechanism on Monday to force through the contentious 2025 budget without parliamentary approval, arguing it was necessary to maintain "stability" amidst deep political divisions. This move immediately triggered a strong backlash, with both Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally and the left-wing New Popular Front introducing no-confidence motions, setting the stage for the vote that ultimately ousted the Prime Minister.

Macron had turned to Barnier in September to address the deadlock and tackle France’s soaring deficit. However, Barnier’s proposed austerity budget—cutting €40 billion ($65.37 billion) in spending and raising €20 billion ($32.68 billion) in taxes—only deepened the divisions, intensifying tensions in the lower house and precipitating this dramatic political showdown. This constitutional tool, known as Article 49.3, allows the government to pass legislation without a parliamentary vote but also exposes it to a no-confidence motion.

Opposition leaders argued that the concessions made by Barnier, including the removal of an electricity tax hike, were insufficient to address their concerns. Le Pen accused Barnier of ignoring her party’s demands. “Everyone must take responsibility,” she said. The political stalemate has already rattled financial markets, with borrowing costs rising sharply amid fears of prolonged instability. Barnier had warned of "serious turmoil" if the budget was not passed, but critics dismissed his comments as scaremongering.