France’s political landscape was rocked on Wednesday night as Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government was toppled by a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly. This unprecedented move, which saw 331 MPs voting in favor out of 577 lawmakers, has left the country in a state of uncertainty, just six months after President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly following a heavy loss in the EU elections.
Reactions to the outcome have been mixed, with leaders from different parties weighing in. Mathilde Panot of the hard-left party France Unbowed hailed the outcome as a defense of democracy, while calling for Macron’s resignation. On the other hand, Olivier Faure of the Socialist Party cautioned against Macron stepping down as a solution to the crisis. Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally expressed a somber tone and emphasized the need for cooperation in constructing a budget for 2025.
Meanwhile, outgoing Finance Minister Antoine Armand accused the left and far-right of destabilizing the country by joining forces. Despite the growing calls for Macron to resign, he is under no obligation to do so as his term in office ends in 2027. Macron is set to address the nation on Thursday evening, but details on the appointment of a new prime minister have not yet been provided.
The resignation of Barnier will make him the shortest-serving prime minister in modern French history, adding to the upheaval in the country’s political landscape. France now faces a period of uncertainty as politicians and parties navigate the aftermath of the vote of no confidence.
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