Macron accuses rivals of bringing ‘disorder’ after no-confidence vote

President Macron spoke to the people of France in a televised address on Thursday evening, 24 hours after his Prime Minister was ousted in what was a humiliating no-confidence vote, ITV News’ John Ray reports
French President Emmanuel Macron has accused his political opponents on the far right and left of bringing “disorder” with a historic no-confidence vote that ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier.
In a speech on Thursday evening, Macron accused his rivals of uniting to form “an anti-Republican front”, claiming they chose “not to do, but to undo”, adding: “I won’t shoulder other people’s irresponsibility.”
Despite growing calls to resign, Macron vowed to stay in office until the end of his term in 2027, and said he would appoint a new prime minister within the coming days, although he gave no hints on who that might be.
Barnier formally submitted his resignation at Elysée Palace on Thursday morning, fulfilling a constitutional obligation, after Wednesday night’s no-confidence motion passed by 331 votes in the National Assembly.
It means he will be the shortest-serving prime minister in modern French history, and the first to be ousted via a no-confidence motion since Georges Pompidou’s in 1962.
Macron now has the difficult task of appointing a new prime minister while trying to appease both the far right and far left of French politics.
Earlier, he “took note” of his appointed prime minister’s resignation, the Elysee presidential palace said in a statement, adding that Barnier and other ministers will be “in charge of current affairs until the appointment of a new government”.
The no-confidence motion was tabled by members of France’s parliament after Barnier announced budget measures including spending cuts and €60 billion (£49.7 billion) worth of tax increases.
He attempted to bring in the measure using a constitutional clause, allowing him to bypass a parliamentary vote, but this same clause also gave members a chance to stage a no-confidence against him – an opportunity seized upon by the leftist party France Unbowed and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally.
Last night’s no-confidence motion has galvanized opposition leaders, with some explicitly calling for Macron’s resignation.
“I believe that stability requires the departure of the President of the Republic,” France Unbowed leader Manuel Bompard told BFM TV Wednesday night.
Le Pen, whose party holds the most seats in the Assembly, stopped short of calling for Macron’s resignation but warned that “the pressure on the president of the republic will get stronger and stronger.”
Macron has dismissed calls to step down and ruled out new legislative elections. The French constitution does not call for a president to resign after his government was ousted by the National Assembly.
“I was elected to serve until 2027, and I will fulfil that mandate,” he told reporters earlier this week.
Having called an early snap legislative election in July, in which Macron’s centrist coalition was hammered by the electorate, the president is constitutionally unable to call another one until 2025.
“So the next lucky owner of the poisoned chalice of the Premiership must try and keep the show on the road at least until then,” said ITV News Europe Editor James Mates.”Whoever it is will face the identical problem that scuppered Barnier: borrowing and spending must be cut to avoid a Greek-style debt crisis, but there is no majority in Parliament to impose those cuts.
“In fact, there is no majority to do anything – with the chamber divided almost exactly in three between the Far Left New Popular Front, Macron’s centrists (plus a few allies) and the far-right Rassemblement National of Marine Le Pen.”
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The political instability has heightened concerns about France’s economy, particularly its debt, which could rise to 7% of GDP next year without significant reforms. Analysts say that Barnier’s government downfall could push up French interest rates, digging the debt even further.Rating agency Moody’s warned late on Wednesday that the government’s fall “reduces the likelihood of consolidating public finances” and worsens the political gridlock.
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