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By Jon Jackson
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Michel Barnier, the prime minister of France, lost a historic no-confidence vote on Wednesday and is expected to resign.
French lawmakers in the National Assembly approved the motion by 331 votes of the 574 available votes. A minimum of 288 were needed. The last time France's national legislature voted to topple the government in this fashion was in 1962.
Barnier, who will become the prime minister with the shortest tenure in France's modern Republic, is next expected to tender the resignation of his government to French President Emmanuel Macron.
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"As this mission may soon come to an end, I can tell you that it will remain an honor for me to have served France and the French with dignity," Barnier said a speech ahead of Wednesday's vote.
He added, "This no-confidence motion... will make everything more serious and more difficult. That's what I'm sure of."
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No-Confidence Vote
On Monday, Barnier bypassed parliamentary approval to impose the 2025 budget, invoking a seldom-used constitutional provision. Barnier defended the controversial move, citing the need to preserve "stability" in the face of escalating political discord.
The decision sparked immediate backlash, with Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and the left-wing New Popular Front swiftly filing no-confidence motions.
Austerity Budget
Macron appointed Barnier in September to break the legislative stalemate and tackle France's mounting deficit. However, Barnier's austerity plan—which includes €40 billion ($42 billion) in spending cuts and €20 billion ($21 billion) in new taxes—has heightened tensions, fueling discord in the National Assembly and causing the political crisis.
Leveraging Article 49.3, a constitutional provision enabling legislation to pass without a parliamentary vote, Barnier gambled on pushing through his budget but left his government vulnerable to no-confidence motions. Opposition leaders dismissed his concessions, such as abandoning an electricity tax hike, as insufficient. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen criticized Barnier for disregarding her party's proposals, accusing him of sidelining their demands entirely.
"Everyone must shoulder their responsibilities," Le Pen said.
What Happens Next?
Macron will retain his position and has said he will serve the rest of his term until 2027. However, he faces the challenge of selecting a new prime minister capable of navigating legislation through a deeply divided assembly.
During a trip to Saudi Arabia earlier this week, Macron said rumors of his own resignation were "make-believe politics," according to French media reports.
"I'm here because I've been elected twice by the French people," Macron said. He also reportedly added: "We must not scare people with such things. We have a strong economy."
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
Update 12/04/24 3:16 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to include more information.
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