French Politics
French government led by Michel Barnier collapses in no-confidence vote deepening political crisis
Paris/IBNS: The French government has collapsed after Prime Minister Michel Barnier was ousted in a no-confidence vote deepening the political instability in the country, media reports said.
Both the left and far-right MPs backed the no-confidence motion in ousting Barnier by an overwhelming 331 votes, 43 more than what was required.
Barnier was ousted just three months after he was appointed to his office by President Emmanuel Macron.
The opposition lawmakers presented the no-confidence motion after Barnier forced through his budget using special constitutional power without a single vote being casted.
This is the first time since 1962 a French government has collapsed in a no-confidence vote.
Barnier, however, is likely to stay in office as a caretaker PM until Macron finds a successor.
Both the left and far-right parties have criticised Barnier's budget.
New Popular Front (NPF), the left-wing alliance, had earlier criticised Macron's appointment of Barnier to the PM's office.
The far-right National Rally termed the budget "unacceptable". Its leader Marine Le Pen called the budget "toxic for the French".
Ahead of the no-confidence vote, Barnier had said as quoted by BBC News, "We have reached a moment of truth, of responsibility."
"We need to look at the realities of our debt."
In a recent interview, Le Pen said Barnier's ousting is the only solution at the present moment.
Macron, who is under pressure after his PM picks are voted out one after the other by the opponents, is expected to deliver an address on Thursday evening.
He is speculated to be naming his next pick as the PM.
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