Thu Dec 05 17:23:53 UTC 2024: ## French Government Collapses After No-Confidence Vote; Macron Faces Deepening Crisis

**PARIS** – French Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned Thursday after his government was defeated in a no-confidence vote, marking the first such defeat since 1962 and plunging the country into deeper political turmoil. Barnier, a veteran politician and renowned negotiator, submitted his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who accepted. He will remain in a caretaker role until a successor is appointed.

The vote, which saw 331 out of 577 lawmakers voting against the government, followed Barnier’s attempt to push through a controversial budget that included €60 billion ($63 billion) in tax hikes and spending cuts. The opposition, including the left-wing LFI-NFP bloc and the far-right National Rally led by Marine Le Pen, united to topple the government.

Le Pen, a key antagonist of Macron, blamed the president for the crisis, stating that his actions led to the current situation. She also criticized Barnier’s “stubborn adherence to dogma,” preventing necessary concessions. Barnier himself accused the far-right of political blackmail in the lead-up to the vote.

The collapse leaves France without a prime minister and facing a looming budget deadline of December 21st. Failure to pass a budget could lead to a fiscal crisis, though a “fiscal continuity law” could prevent a complete government shutdown. However, finding a replacement prime minister acceptable to the fragmented parliament – with the left and far-right holding significant power – presents a major challenge for Macron.

Macron’s decision to call snap elections earlier this year resulted in a parliament divided into three factions, none holding a majority. This precarious situation has now culminated in a full-blown government crisis, weakening Macron’s authority halfway through his second term. The political instability has also impacted France’s financial standing, with borrowing costs briefly exceeding those of Greece.

Macron is expected to address the nation later Thursday, and faces mounting pressure, including calls for his own resignation. While a further snap election is impossible until June, the current crisis severely complicates the remainder of his presidency.

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