Following a no-confidence vote in parliament, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier was abruptly ousted from office. After only three months in office, his government has come to an end under President Emmanuel Macron.
Wednesday night’s vote was historic since it was the first time in more than 60 years that parliament has overthrown a French government. The proposal received a resounding 331 votes from parliamentarians, well over the 288 votes needed.
The left-wing New Popular Front and Marine Le Pen’s far-right coalition formed an odd partnership that fueled the no-confidence vote. Seeing that Barnier’s use of special executive powers to ram through his budget without parliamentary approval was undemocratic, both organizations banded together to resist.
With concerns over who will take over as leader and the potential effects on the Macron administration, this sudden political upheaval has put France in unfamiliar territory. Barnier’s brief term as prime minister has spurred debates about the nation’s widening political rift and the mounting pressure on leaders to uphold democratic norms.
