French Prime Minister Michel Barnier has resigned after losing a vote of no confidence in parliament, plunging the country into further political and financial turmoil. Barnier, who is set to become one of France’s shortest-serving prime ministers, arrived at the Elysee Palace just after 0900 GMT to formally submit his resignation, as required by the constitution following the parliamentary defeat.
The no-confidence motion, proposed by the hard-left opposition and supported by the far-right faction led by Marine Le Pen, passed with the backing of a majority of lawmakers on Wednesday. Barnier’s swift ousting follows the snap parliamentary elections held this summer, which resulted in a hung parliament. No party was able to secure a majority, leaving the far-right as a key player in the government’s survival.
The immediate cause of Barnier’s downfall was his controversial 2025 budget plan, which included austerity measures deemed unacceptable by many in parliament. While Barnier argued that the cuts were necessary to stabilize France’s finances, the plan faced strong opposition. Earlier this week, he pushed through a social security financing bill without a vote, further escalating tensions.
With the no-confidence motion successful, Barnier’s entire financing plan has been scrapped. As a result, the current budget will automatically be extended into next year unless a new government can urgently pass a new budget before Christmas—an outcome that seems unlikely given the political deadlock.
