French Prime Minister, Michel Barnier has been removed from office following a no-confidence vote, just three months after taking office, plunging the country into political uncertainty.
According to CNN, 331 out of 577 lawmakers voted against Barnier’s government on Wednesday, making him the first prime minister to be ousted through such a motion since 1962.
The move follows Barnier’s controversial decision to push through the 2025 budget by invoking a constitutional loophole, circumventing a parliamentary vote
Barnier, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron to lead a minority government following a fractured snap election earlier this year, now holds the record for France’s shortest-serving prime minister.
His cabinet will remain in a caretaker role until Macron appoints a new prime minister, a decision that presents significant challenges as the president faces increasing pressure from both left-wing and far-right factions within the National Assembly.
“I know removing me will make things more difficult. But I am not afraid” Barnier said during the tense debate in the National Assembly.
His appeal was unsuccessful, as opposition parties from across the political spectrum joined forces to unseat him, as reported by BBC.
