French Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government collapsed on Wednesday following a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, marking the first such event in over 60 years. Barnier faced opposition from both the left-wing NFP coalition and the far-right National Rally (RN) after he used Article 49.3 of the Constitution to pass the 2025 social security budget without a parliamentary vote.
What’s Next for France and Macron?
Barnier will likely remain as a caretaker prime minister to manage current affairs, but cannot propose new laws. President Macron will now need to appoint a new prime minister, though the decision will be challenging due to the divided National Assembly, where no party has a clear majority. The new prime minister must survive a confidence vote, which could take months.
Some critics are calling for Macron’s resignation due to the ongoing political crisis. However, analysts believe that stepping down now would only exacerbate the situation. If no budget is approved by December 20, the government can bypass the National Assembly and pass it by decree, though this is a temporary solution. France’s fiscal deficit remains a concern for the EU, as it exceeds the allowed 3% of GDP.