France Plunges Into Political Turmoil as PM Barnier Ousted by No-Confidence Vote

French lawmakers toppled Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his government on Wednesday, sending shockwaves through the European Union’s second-largest economy.

The no-confidence vote, backed by far-right and far-left politicians, secured a majority of 331 votes, making Barnier’s government the first to collapse in such a fashion since 1962.

The no-confidence motion passed with 331 votes. REUTERS

The motion was fuelled by mounting discontent over Barnier’s controversial decision to bypass parliament and impose a €60 billion budget savings plan using special constitutional powers. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen, a vocal critic, declared the vote was “the only constitutional tool to shield the French from a harmful and punitive budget.”

With Barnier’s resignation imminent, President Emmanuel Macron now faces a political crisis of historic proportions. The fallout leaves France teetering on the edge of governmental paralysis, risking the absence of a stable administration or a finalised 2025 budget by year’s end. While constitutional mechanisms could prevent a U.S.-style government shutdown, the political and economic ramifications are already being felt.

President of the Rassemblement National Parliamentary Group, Marine Le Pen, is addressing the National Assembly. Photo by ALAIN JOCARD/AFP via Getty Images

France’s borrowing costs, a measure of investor confidence, recently spiked above Greece’s—a nation long perceived as a higher financial risk. This economic anxiety comes as the European Union grapples with broader instability, including Germany’s collapsing coalition government and the impending return of Donald Trump to the White House.

Macron’s options are narrowing. According to sources, he is racing to appoint a new prime minister before Saturday’s reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral, an event expected to draw global attention, including that of President-elect Trump. However, any new leader would inherit the same fractured parliament that stymied Barnier, leaving little hope for swift legislative progress.

Alternatively, Macron could retain Barnier’s administration as a caretaker while seeking a more viable replacement. Yet this strategy risks prolonged political deadlock, especially as opposition parties seem poised to block successive appointments. Critics argue that Macron should step down to resolve the crisis—a move he appears unwilling to consider.

For Le Pen, the political gamble is equally precarious. Having long pitched her National Rally as a government-in-waiting, her role in dismantling the Barnier administration could either solidify her credibility or backfire if voters perceive her as contributing to chaos.

France now stands at a crossroads. The coming days will determine whether Macron can stabilise his presidency and restore confidence in his leadership—or whether this historic upheaval will deepen, with ripple effects extending far beyond French borders.