French Prime Minister Michel Barnier on Thursday submitted his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, marking the end of his brief tenure after his government was ousted in a historic no-confidence vote in parliament.
Barnier will stay on in a caretaker role until a new government is named, the Elysee Palace said.
The no-confidence vote, supported by the far-right National Rally and the left opposition, marks the first such successful action in France since 1962, when Charles de Gaulle’s presidency faced a similar parliamentary challenge.
President Macron is under pressure to swiftly appoint a new prime minister to avoid further political instability. A hung parliament following June’s snap elections has left no single party with an outright majority, complicating the task of forming a new government.
Macron races to find a successor
The search for Barnier’s replacement is expected to be challenging, with Macron aiming to identify a candidate capable of leading a minority government in a divided legislature. French media have reported a shortlist of centrist candidates who might appeal across the political spectrum, but no official names have been confirmed.
Political fallout from Barnier’s ouster
Barnier’s removal followed his controversial 2025 budget proposal, which included austerity measures that parliament rejected. The budget plan, which Barnier argued was necessary to stabilize France’s finances, triggered widespread opposition. On Monday, he bypassed parliament to push through a social security financing bill.
The government’s collapse thus leaves France without an approved budget.
Calls for Macron’s resignation
Opposition leaders have seized on the moment to amplify criticisms of Macron’s leadership. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, whose party holds the largest bloc in the National Assembly, stopped short of demanding Macron’s resignation but warned of mounting pressure on the president.
Despite the growing calls for his departure, Macron has dismissed suggestions of stepping down or calling new legislative elections.