French Prime Minister Michel Barnier has resigned after losing a vote of no confidence just three months into the job.
Mr Barnier visited President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee on Thursday to give his resignation after far-right and left-wing politicians joined forces to back a no-confidence motion in him and his government.
The vote took place after Mr Barnier, formerly the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, used special powers to force a social security budget through the country’s lower house of parliament without a final vote.
Barnier latest: Emmanuel Macron to give national address
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The 73-year-old’s ousting marks the first time a French government has lost a confidence vote since 1962.
It also makes Mr Barnier the shortest-serving prime minister in the country’s modern history.
His resignation letter to the president, published by French media, was succinct.
He wrote to Mr Macron: “Since the assembly has adopted a no-confidence motion, I have the honour of submitting the resignation of the government.
“Please accept, Mr President of the Republic, the assurance of my deepest respect.”
Mr Barnier and his government will stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new prime minister is nominated, the Elysee said in a statement.
Pressure is expected to mount on Mr Macron to resign as he has been heavily criticised for calling parliamentary elections in the summer that led to a hung parliament. His presidential term ends in 2027.
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The French parliament was left in a fractured state by the vote, with the left-wing Popular Front alliance winning the most seats – 193 – but far from the 289 needed for a majority.
Infighting among the Popular Front, which consists of seven parties, led to them being unable to agree on a candidate for prime minister.
Mr Macron’s centrist Ensemble alliance, which came second in the election, built a loose coalition with right-wing politicians, in particular the Republicans, of which Mr Barnier was a member and who the far-right National Rally had said they could work with.
But the Popular Front and National Rally came together to bring down Mr Barnier yesterday.
