French President Emmanuel Macron has declared he will serve his full five-year term, despite a no-confidence vote that ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government, Al Jazeera reports.
In a televised address on Thursday, Macron blamed the far-right and far-left for the political crisis, accusing them of prioritizing “disorder” and forming an “anti-Republican front.” He pledged to appoint a new prime minister in the coming days.
Barnier’s government, which lasted a mere three months – the shortest tenure in modern French history – fell after 331 lawmakers in the 577-seat National Assembly voted against it on Wednesday. The vote followed June and July’s snap parliamentary elections, which resulted in a hung parliament with no single party holding a majority. The far-right held the balance of power, ultimately proving pivotal in bringing down the government.
Macron, who accepted Barnier’s resignation, characterized the vote as an act of “undoing” rather than constructive governance.
“The mandate you have given me is for five years, and I will exercise it until the very end,” he said.
He firmly rejected taking responsibility for the political instability, emphasizing that he wouldn’t “shoulder other people’s irresponsibility.”
The Elysee Palace confirmed that Barnier would remain in a caretaker role until a successor is named. Pressure is mounting on Macron to act swiftly. National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet urged him to appoint a new prime minister quickly, warning against prolonging the uncertainty. Several names are circulating as potential replacements, including centrist veteran and Macron ally Francois Bayrou and outgoing Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu.
The political turmoil in France adds to instability within the European Union, following the collapse of Germany’s coalition government. The situation comes just weeks before the anticipated return of US President Donald Trump. The incoming prime minister will inherit the daunting task of navigating a deeply divided parliament and addressing France’s ailing public finances, including pushing through the 2025 budget.
While French constitutional rules prevent a new parliamentary election until July, public opinion is divided. A Toluna Harris Interactive poll for RTL indicated that 64 percent of voters want Macron to resign, although a slim majority approved of the parliament’s decision to remove Barnier. However, significant concerns remain regarding the economic and political implications of the current crisis. A French president can only be removed through a two-thirds vote of no confidence, a provision that has never been utilized.
