French Prime Minister and Cabinet Ousted in No-Confidence Vote

(CLO) French lawmakers passed a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Michel Barnier's cabinet on Wednesday, plunging the European Union's second-largest economic power into deeper crisis.

Far-right and left-wing lawmakers have joined forces to back a motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Michel Barnier, with a majority of 331 votes in favour of the move.

Mr Barnier will have to submit his resignation and that of his entire cabinet to President Emmanuel Macron, making his minority government's three-month term the shortest in France's Fifth Republic since 1958. French media reported that he was expected to submit it on Thursday morning.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier will have to leave office after only 3 months in office. Photo: Reuters

The far left and the far right have chastised Mr Barnier for using special constitutional powers to pass an unpopular budget that was blocked in the French parliament. The budget sought to save 60 billion euros to narrow the deficit.

This is the first time a French cabinet has lost a vote of confidence since 1962.

Mr Macron compounded the crisis by calling early parliamentary elections in June, which the New Popular Front (NFP), a left-wing alliance comprising the Greens, the Communists and France Unbowed, won.

Due to political deadlock over not being able to control the National Assembly, it took French President Emmanuel Macron 2 months to appoint Mr. Michel Barnier as Prime Minister, the third person to hold this position in 2 years.

The France Undaunted party has now called for Macron to resign. The far-right leader of the National Front (RN) party, Marine Le Pen, is also putting pressure on the French prime minister. "I am not urging Macron to resign," she said. "The pressure on the president will only increase. Only he can make that decision."

France is currently facing a period of deep political uncertainty that has already unnerved investors in French bonds and stocks. Political turmoil in France would further weaken the European Union, which is already reeling from the collapse of the coalition government in Germany.

The Elysee Palace said President Macron would address the nation on Thursday evening to make decisions on how to tackle the crisis, including quickly appointing a new prime minister.

Hoang Anh (according to France24, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/thu-tuong-va-noi-cac-phap-bi-phe-truat-trong-cuoc-bo-phieu-bat-tin-nhiem-post324211.html