For the first time since 1962, the French National Assembly has approved a vote of no confidence against a sitting government. A total of 331 out of 577 members voted in favor of the no-confidence declaration, which was presented by the left-wing alliance NFP with the support of the far-right led by Marine Le Pen.
At least 288 yes-votes were required for it to pass.
Barnier must now submit his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, says the President of the National Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet.
This is exactly what Barnier will do on Thursday, according to Macron's office.
Brief Prime Minister
The no-confidence declaration makes Barnier France's shortest-lived Prime Minister – if he is not reappointed by Macron.
Dissatisfaction with the government has been great on both sides since Michel Barnier and the ministers took office just three months ago. But what triggered the no-confidence vote is that Barnier forced through the budget for social insurance with an exception rule because he could not get enough support for it in parliament.
According to Braun-Pivet, "the bill on financing social insurance is considered rejected" following the no-confidence declaration.
Macron Urged to Resign
What happens now is unclear, but Macron cannot at least dissolve parliament and call new elections, since it has not been long enough since the last parliamentary election last summer.
The far-left is now urging President Macron to resign and call an early presidential election, according to Mathilde Panot from Unsubmissive France (LFI).
The President has previously rejected such calls and called such a scenario "political fiction". Macron is expected to address the nation on Thursday evening.
In the parliamentary election at the beginning of July, both the united left and the far-right made significant gains, but without achieving a sufficient majority. Instead, Macron's movement was forced to seek support from the traditional right to form a government.
