The French parliament has voted to oust Prime Minister Michel Barnier in a no-confidence vote, marking the second death of Macronism. With barely more than 200 MPs supporting him, Barnier could not secure a majority, leading to his downfall.
Barnier’s government was facing mounting concerns over French state finances and needed a budget to safeguard President Emmanuel Macron’s pro-business agenda while charting a path for deficit reduction. However, the votes just weren’t there, with the parties in the coalition being prone to infighting and competitive posturing.
The prime minister’s decision to use a special constitutional provision to force a social security financing bill through parliament without a vote from the National Assembly exposed him to a no-confidence motion, which was immediately submitted by the left-wing Nouveau Front Populaire. The votes of 331 MPs were more than enough to block Barnier and oust him from power.
Barnier’s fall marks the latest turn in a political crisis that began in early June when Macron took the country by surprise by dissolving the National Assembly. The snap elections revealed broad-based rejection of Macron’s technocratic centrism, with Le Pen’s far-right party finishing with 142 seats and Macron’s centrist alliance withering to just 166.
Barnier provided a short reprieve for Macron, who still faces record lows in popularity ratings. According to an opinion study, 76 percent of the public disapprove of Macron’s handling of the presidency. The president is now expected to name a new prime minister in the coming days, but it seems unlikely that any personnel change can salvage Macron’s political project.
The collapse of Barnier’s government highlights tensions within the NFP alliance, with some parties willing to form a “no-censure” pact with the Macronists, while others pledge to break with Macron’s policies. Whoever emerges as Barnier’s successor, it is clear that Macronism is facing its second death and struggles to regain momentum in the face of mounting opposition.
Source: https://www.thenation.com/article/world/france-le-pen-macron-collapse-government