Macron set to announce new PM amid political upheaval
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that "in the coming days" he will reveal the name of the new prime minister. In an evening television address, he also assured that he will fulfill his duties until the end of his presidential term in 2027.
In the coming days, French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to unveil the name of a new prime minister. He made this announcement during an evening address to the nation.
Macron also stated that he would entrust the new prime minister with forming a government "in the general interest, representing all political forces who can take part." He accused the far left and the far right of joining in an anti-republican front, by jointly adopting a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government.
"I want to thank also Michel Barnier for his great work. He has always delivered, he has always served the European interests, and also in this regard he delivered and he did a good job for us," he said.
A moment after the address to the nation, Emmanuel Macron shared a photo on social media from his meeting with Michel Barnier.
Political earthquake in Paris
The French Parliament passed a motion of no confidence against Michel Barnier's government on Wednesday, forcing him to resign. Prime Minister Barnier's government is the first to resign as a result of a no-confidence vote since 1962.
The motion was supported by 331 members of the left and the far right. A total of 289 votes were necessary for its adoption.
The motion of no confidence was filed by the left-wing New People's Front (NFP), and was backed by the far-right National Rally faction led by Marine Le Pen.
The vote was preceded by a stormy debate. Opponents of the government criticised the provisions of the budget proposed by Barnier, which became the direct reason for submitting the motion of no confidence. They also accused President Emmanuel Macron. Eric Coquerel, a member of the far-left La France Insoumise (LFI), stated that the vote signifies the "death knell of Emmanuel Macron’s mandate."
