Macron at the epicenter of the French political crisis

After an impasse over austerity, Macron faces the political crisis in France with the fall of Barnier and the controversial approval of pension reform

French President Emmanuel Macron will look for ways out of France’s political crisis this Thursday, after Michel Barnier became the first prime minister to be removed by parliament in more than six decades.

MPs voted on Wednesday to dismiss Barnier’s government after just three months in office, passing a motion of no confidence proposed by the far left but which, crucially, was supported by the far right led by Marine Le Pen. .

Barnier’s swift dismissal comes after early parliamentary elections this summer, which resulted in a hung parliament, with no party holding an absolute majority, and with the far-right holding key to the government’s survival.

Now, Macron faces the difficult task of choosing a viable successor with more than two years of his presidential term remaining, with some – though not all – opponents calling for his resignation.

Barnier met with Macron on Thursday to tender his resignation after losing a vote of no confidence in parliament, with the president urgently seeking ways to halt the growing political and financial chaos.