After Michel Barnier became the first prime minister to be removed by parliament in more than 60 years, French President Emmanuel Macron will look for solutions to the country’s political turmoil on Thursday.
A no-confidence motion put up by the extreme left, but crucially supported by Marine Le Pen’s far-right, was approved by lawmakers on Wednesday, to overthrow Barnier’s administration after only three months in power.
Barnier’s record-quick ejection comes after snap parliamentary elections this summer, which resulted in a hung parliament with no party having an overall majority and the far right holding the key to the government’s survival.
Macron now has the unenviable task of picking a viable successor with over two years of his presidential term left, with some — though not all — opponents calling on him to resign.
On Thursday morning, Barnier is scheduled to deliver his government’s resignation to Macron.
At 1900 GMT, the president will then speak to the country, according to the Elysee.
The radical left in the National Assembly introduced the motion of no-confidence amid a stalemate over the austerity budget for the following year. On Monday, the prime minister pushed through a social security financing measure without a vote.
In the 577-member parliament, 331 MPs voted to remove the administration, with the far right’s backing.
It was the first successful no-confidence vote since a defeat for Georges Pompidou’s government in 1962, when Charles de Gaulle was president.
