French government collapses again after prime minister is forcibly removed

France’s National Assembly passed a no-confidence motion on Wednesday, bringing down the incumbent government.

A total of 331 members voted in favour of the motion, more than the required 288 votes. The vote came shortly after President Emmanuel Macron appointed Prime Minister Michel Barnier in September.

Barnier is now expected to resign after just three months in office. The conservative leader will be the shortest-serving prime minister in French history.

“As this mission may end soon, I can tell you that it will remain an honour for me to serve France and the French with dignity,” Barnier said shortly before the vote.

Macron wants to serve until his term ends in 2027, even though there is pressure from both sides to resign. If he remains in office, he will have to appoint a new prime minister for a second time.

The no-confidence vote, due to budget disputes, was the result of far-right and far-left French lawmakers coming together against the current government.

Snap legislative elections in July significantly changed the power dynamics in parliament, as the centrist Ensemble coalition lost many seats to the New Popular Front leftist coalition.

In a post published on X on Wednesday, National Rally leader Marine Le Pen expressed a desire to work with the next prime minister.

“We have been constructive from the beginning, and we will be with the next prime minister, who will need to propose a new budget,” Le Pen’s post, which was translated into English, read. “We want our voters to be respected and their demands heard.”