A day after a historic no-confidence vote left France without a functioning government, President Emmanuel Macron came out fighting by vowing to stay in office until the end of his term—2027.
He also declared that a new prime minister will be named soon, following the resignation of ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier. He, and other ministers, will be in charge until the appointment of a new government.
ALSO READ: What led to French PM Michel Barnier's ouster?
According to the French constitution, a president does not need to resign even if his government is ousted by the National Assembly, the country's lower house of parliament. However, opposition leaders buoyed by the no-confidence vote have been calling for Macron's resignation.
Je refuse que les Français paient la facture de cette censure. Nous ne pouvons nous permettre ni les divisions ni l’immobilisme. pic.twitter.com/MqZRi5SsNv
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 5, 2024
The no-confidence motion, which arose from the opposition to Barnier's proposed budget, passed by 331 votes in the National Assembly, forcing Barnier to step down after just three months in office—the shortest tenure of any French prime minister. The vote was the first successful no-confidence action since the defeat for Georges Pompidou's government in 1962, when Charles de Gaulle was president.
The parliament comprises three major blocs: Macron's centrist allies, the left-wing coalition New Popular Front, and the far-right National Rally. The opposition blocs united against Barnier in the no-confidence vote.
“They chose disorder,” Macron said, laying the blame for bringing down Barnier's government on the far right and the far left, and calling them an “anti-Republican front”.
“I won't shoulder other people's irresponsibility.”
Macron, however, took responsibility for his decision to dissolve parliament in June, which led to the political crisis. “I do recognise that this decision wasn't understood. Many people criticised me for it. I know many continue to criticise me for it. But, I believe it was necessary to let French voters speak.”
Macron must now name Barnier's replacement to lead the minority government, with no single party holding a majority in the parliament after the elections earlier this year. He had taken more than two months to appoint Barnier after his party's defeat in the polls.
