France’s government has fallen into political turmoil after MPs voted to remove Michel Barnier, the prime minister, from office.
No-Confidence Motion Passes with 331 Votes. The motion of no confidence required a minimum of 289 votes to pass and achieved this threshold with ease.
MPs were limited to either voting in favor of the motion or abstaining, as voting against was not an option.
This marks the first time since 1962 that a French government has fallen in such a manner.
Barnier, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron in September following July’s snap election, now holds the record as the shortest-serving prime minister in French history.
President Macron is reportedly eager to name a replacement before Donald Trump attends the re-opening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on Saturday. However, uncertainty looms as MPs remain divided on supporting a new candidate.
The political crisis escalated earlier this week when Left- and Right-wing parties united to propose two no-confidence motions after Barnier invoked a rare constitutional power to push through his budget.
With Barnier ousted, an aide reveals that Macron aims to appoint a new prime minister “within 24 hours” to ensure a government is in place ahead of Donald Trump’s visit to Paris this weekend for the Notre-Dame Cathedral reopening ceremony.
