PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron appeared combative Thursday in his first comments following the resignation of ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier, a day after a historic no-confidence vote in the National Assembly left France without a functioning government.
Macron said he would remain president “until the end” of his five-year term in 2027. He also said he would name a new prime minister within days, but gave no indication of who that might be.
Macron blamed his opponents on the far right for the fall of Michel Barnier’s government. He said they chose “not to do but to undo.” “They chose disorder,” he said. The president said the far right and far left had united in what he called an “anti-Republican front” and stressed: “I will not take on other people’s irresponsibility.”
The National Assembly ousted Barnier by 331 votes, making him the shortest-serving prime minister in newfangled French history. Macron is under pressure to quickly name a new leader capable of navigating a fragmented parliament where no party has a majority.
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Macron warns that France cannot afford a standstill
Macron pointed out that France’s constitution prevents a new round of parliamentary elections so soon after the last, meaning the country will remain in the current National Assembly until next July at the earliest. This reality means that legislators have a duty to “work together in the service of France and the French.”
“The world, Europe, is moving forward and we need a government that can make decisions,” Macron said.
“We cannot allow ourselves division or immobility. That is why I will appoint a prime minister in the coming days.”
The French president acknowledges his own role in the chaos currently shaking France
While Macron criticized his political opponents, he also acknowledged his own role in the chaos currently shaking French politics and worrying financial markets. He repeated his decision in June to dissolve parliament. That triggered the crisis and led to new general elections, which created the now-stalled Parliament, divided into three minority blocs that do not have enough seats to govern alone and are proving largely unable to work together – except to overthrow Barnier.
“I am aware that this decision was not understood. A lot of people criticized me for that. I know that many people continue to criticize me for this. It’s a fact. And it’s my responsibility.”
Macron attacks the MPs who supported the vote of no confidence
Macron attacked the MPs who supported the no-confidence vote that forced Barnier’s resignation, accusing them of pursuing their own political interests. He noted that the vote coincided with the upcoming year-end holidays.
“Why did the legislature act this way? They don’t think about you, about your life, your difficulties,” he said. “They only think about one thing: the presidential election – to prepare for it, to provoke it, to hasten it.”
But Macron said he would see out the remaining 30 months of his second and final term as president.
Macron blames his political opponents for the fall of Michel Barnier’s government
In his speech, Macron appeared combative and blamed his opponents on the far right for the fall of Michel Barnier’s government. He said they chose “not to do but to undo.” “They chose disorder,” he said.
The president said the far right and far left had united in what he called an “anti-Republican front” and stressed: “I will not take on other people’s irresponsibility.”
He said he would name a new prime minister within days but gave no indication of who that might be.
Macron promises to stay in office
In his speech on Thursday, Macron promised to remain in office until his term expires in 2027.
Despite weakened forces at home, Macron still has extensive powers for France on the international stage
French President Emmanuel Macron faces the challenge of choosing a prime minister capable of leading a minority government in a parliament where no party has a majority.
The Prime Minister is accountable to Parliament, runs the government and introduces bills – at the risk of being ousted by a motion of no confidence.
Macron had previously ruled out voting for the candidate from the left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front, because he belongs to the far-left France Unbowed party. French media have reported on a shortlist of centrist candidates who could appeal to both sides of the political spectrum.
With no majority in Parliament, the president is weakened at home but still has broad powers over foreign policy, European affairs and defense, and is responsible for negotiating and ratifying international treaties. The president is also commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces and has jurisdiction over nuclear laws.
French President Emmanuel Macron was elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2022 for a five-year term.
The teacher protests are taking on a new tone and linking demands to the political crisis
A planned protest by teachers against education budget cuts took on a new tone on Thursday as demonstrators in Paris linked their demands to the political crisis sparked by Barnier’s collapse.
“Macron resign!” (“Stop Macron!”) read a sign posted by Dylan Quenon, 28, a physical education teacher at a middle school in Aubervilliers, north of Paris. Quenon said President Emmanuel Macron bore responsibility for what he described as the dismantling of public services.
“He is responsible for our dismay, after all he is the one in charge,” Quenon said. “The only way to change this is to remove him from office.”
Quenon cited examples of budget constraints at his school, where teachers had circumscribed photocopying to save paper and had to wait months for basic sports equipment like pinnies and balls.
At the protest, which was attended by thousands of people, there were chants directed against Macron, Barnier and their now no longer valid budget draft. The demonstrators chanted: “Macron, Barnier et leur budget, et hop tout ça à la poubelle” (“Macron, Barnier and their budget throw everything in the trash”).
The demonstrators also expressed little optimism that Macron’s next candidate would change course.
“I’m glad this government is falling, but it could potentially lead to something even worse,” said Élise De La Gorce, a 33-year-old philosophy teacher in Stains, north of Paris. “Given the way the previous government was appointed, I don’t have the slightest hope that Macron could make the right choice for me.”
What will happen to the French government’s budget?
In France, there is no threat of a government shutdown, which in the United States would disrupt many services and put pressure on federal employees.
An outgoing government could introduce a special law to raise taxes based on this year’s rules starting Jan. 1. It could also decide by decree to renew spending to pay civil servants, pensions and other key government expenses.
However, this would suspend any potential tax escalate – as originally expected for vast corporations – and freeze any new spending.
In particular, an additional 3.3 billion euros ($3.5 billion) package was planned for the French military as the country supports Ukraine in its war against Russia.
A new government could later submit its own budget proposals to parliament.
There is pressure on Macron to quickly appoint a new prime minister
Macron faces the crucial task of naming a successor capable of leading a minority government in a parliament where no party has a majority. Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly and a member of Macron’s party, called on the president to act quickly.
“I recommend that he decide quickly on a new prime minister,” Braun-Pivet said on France Inter radio on Thursday. “There can be no political hesitation. We need a leader who can speak to everyone and advocate for the passage of a new budget bill.”
The process can prove challenging. Macron’s government has not yet confirmed any names, although French media have reported a shortlist of centrist candidates who could appeal to both sides of the political spectrum.
Why is the National Assembly so volatile?
After parliamentary elections in June and July, the National Assembly, France’s powerful lower house of parliament, is split into three major blocs: a left-wing coalition called the New Popular Front, Macron’s centrist allies and the far-right National Rally party. . Nobody won an absolute majority.
In September, Macron called on conservative Barnier to form a government dominated by Republicans and centrists – implicitly relying on the goodwill of the far right to stay in power.
But in the days before his ouster, far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused Barnier of ignoring her demands, and the left-wing coalition denounced an “austerity budget” and criticized “the lack of dialogue and disregard for parliamentary work.”
What did Barnier say after he was voted out?
“I can tell you that it will remain an honor for me to have served France and the French with dignity,” Barnier said in his final speech before the vote.
“This motion of no confidence… will make everything even more serious and difficult. I’m sure of it,” he said.
How was Barnier overthrown?
France’s far-right and left-wing lawmakers joined forces on Wednesday in a historic no-confidence vote sparked by budget disputes. It was the first successful vote of no confidence since 1962.
The National Assembly, the lower house of the French parliament, approved the motion with 331 votes. At least 288 were needed.
Who is Michel Barnier, the ousted former prime minister?
Barnier, 73, was the oldest of the 26 prime ministers who served in France’s Fifth Republic. He replaced the youngest, Gabriel Attal, who was 34 when appointed.
He is a career politician with humble roots in the French Alpine region of Haute-Savoie. He was the European Union’s chief negotiator in the tough negotiations with Great Britain about its exit from the union.
He also has the shortest term of any prime minister.
When will Macron speak?
French President Emmanuel Macron’s speech to the nation is scheduled to be delivered in less than an hour and a half. He is expected to address France’s economic challenges while charting the course for the future government.
