President Emmanuel Macron of France announced that he would appoint a new prime minister in the coming days after the government lost a no-confidence vote in Parliament. In a televised address to the nation, Macron emphasized the need for unity and action, stating that he would not resign despite calls from politicians on both sides of the aisle. The current prime minister, Michel Barnier, will continue in a caretaker role after being forced to resign, leaving France in political turmoil without a budget for the new year. This marks the first successful no-confidence vote in France in over 60 years, making Barnier’s three-month-old government the shortest-tenured in modern French history. Finding a new prime minister who can navigate the country’s polarized political landscape will be a challenge, as the lower house of Parliament could attempt to bring down any new government. The vote comes at a difficult time for France, as they struggle with high debt and a widening deficit, along with uncertainties surrounding their support for Ukraine and strained relationships with key allies like the United States and Germany. The situation in France will need careful navigation in the coming days to ensure stability and effective governance.
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