FRANCE – French President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation on Thursday night, a day after Prime Minister Michel Barnier was ousted in a no-confidence vote. The presidency said on Thursday that Barnier had resigned his post, but would remain in office on a caretaker basis with his ministers until a new government was appointed. Names for a new prime minister have been swirling, including Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and centrist former presidential candidate François Bayrou. But finding a name that would not immediately be shot down by one of the large parliamentary factions could take some time, as it did in the summer, when former PM Gabriel Attal stayed on as caretaker for two months. Barnier’s government collapsed after MPs voted overwhelmingly in support of the motion against him, just three months after he was appointed by Macron.  Wednesday night’s vote was the first time a French government had been voted down by parliament in more than 60 years.

Marine Le Pen’s far right and the left-wing New Popular Front both united to censure Barnier’s government after the former Brexit negotiator used special powers to force through his budget without a vote. A total of 331 voted in support of the motion, far more than the 288 required for it to pass. Barnier presented the resignation of his government after the vote, while the budget which triggered his downfall was automatically withdrawn. As president, Macron is constitutionally unaffected by Barnier’s resignation. But many opposition politicians are increasingly open about wanting to force him to resign and call early presidential elections – something Macron has insisted is off the cards. (BBC)

Photo: The French government fell after parliament backed a motion of no-confidence in Prime Minister Michel Barnier. (Getty Images)