The French government has collapsed following a no-confidence vote that removed Prime Minister Michel Barnier from office.
Members of Parliament overwhelmingly backed the motion against Barnier, just three months after he was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron. The vote was prompted by opposition parties in response to Barnier’s controversial use of special powers to bypass parliamentary approval for his budget.
This marks the first time a French government has fallen due to a no-confidence vote since 1962, deepening the country’s political instability. Snap elections earlier this year left no single party with a parliamentary majority, further complicating governance.
The motion required 288 votes to pass and received the support of 331 MPs. As a result, Barnier must submit his government’s resignation, rendering the contentious budget null and void. However, he is expected to remain as caretaker prime minister while Macron selects a successor.
The no-confidence motions were tabled by both the left and the far-right, following Barnier’s use of a presidential decree on Monday to enact social security reforms after failing to secure sufficient parliamentary backing for the measures.
via BBC
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