FRENCH PRIME MINISTER TO RESIGN – Michel Barnier to present his resignation to President Macron
The French prime minister, Michel Barnier, is expected to resign today, a day after his government became the first to be toppled by a no-confidence vote in more than 60 years and just three months after it took office – a record ouster.
Barnier is due to present President Emmanuel Macron with his government’s resignation this morning. The president would then address the nation on Thursday evening.
MPs joined forces to back a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his government, with a majority 331 votes in support of the motion.
Barnier opted to use special constitutional powers to adopt part of an unpopular budget without a final vote in parliament, where it lacked majority support. The draft budget had sought 60 billion euros ($63.07 billion) in savings in a drive to shrink a gaping deficit, members of parliament revolted.
France now risks ending the year without a stable government or a 2025 budget, although the constitution allows special measures that would avert a government shutdown.
