PARIS – French lawmakers from the right and the left joined forces Wednesday in a historic no-confidence vote sparked by budget disputes that forced Prime Minister Michel Barnier and members of his Cabinet to resign, for the first time since 1962.
The National Assembly approved the proposal with 331 votes. At least 288 were needed.
President Emmanuel Macron has insisted that he will serve his entire term until 2027. However, he will need to appoint a new prime minister for the second time after July’s legislative elections resulted in a divided parliament.
Barnier, a Conservative who was elected in September, will be the shortest-serving prime minister of the modern French Republic.
“As this project may come to an end soon, I can tell you that it will always be an honor for me to serve France and the French with dignity,” Barnier said in his final speech before the vote.
“This motion of no confidence… will make everything more serious and difficult. That’s what I’m sure of,” he said.
Wednesday’s key vote rose from strong opposition to Barnier’s proposed budget.
The National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament, is divided, with no single party having a majority. It includes three major blocs: Macron’s centrist allies, the left-wing coalition New Popular Front, and the far-right National Rally. Both opposition parties, often at odds, are uniting against Barnier, accusing him of imposing austerity measures and failing to address the needs of citizens.
Speaking in the National Assembly before the vote, National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, whose party’s interests were crucial to keeping Barnier in power, said “we have reached a moment of truth, a parliamentary moment not seen since 1962.”
“Stop pretending the lights are going to go out,” said left-wing lawmaker Eric Coquerel, noting the possibility of an emergency tax law starting January 1, based on this year’s laws. “The special law will prevent the closure. It will allow us to finish the year by pushing back the budget by a few weeks.”
Macron must appoint a new prime minister, but the divided parliament remains unchanged. No new legislative elections can be held until at least July, creating potential stability for policymakers.
Macron said talks about his possible resignation were “hypocritical politics” during a trip to Saudi Arabia earlier this week, according to French media reports.
“I am here because I was elected twice by the French people,” said Macron. He was also reported as saying: “We should not scare people with such things. We have a strong economy.”
Although France is not at risk of a US-style government shutdown, political instability could disrupt financial markets.
France is under pressure from the European Union to reduce its huge debts. The country’s deficit is estimated at 6% of the gross domestic product this year and analysts say it could rise to 7% next year without serious adjustments. Political instability could raise French interest rates, driving up debt.
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