Summary

  • Michel Barnier has become the first PM of France to be ousted in a no-confidence vote since 1962

  • Left and far-right parties united to collapse his government - just three months after he was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron

  • Barnier's leadership was called into question after he used special powers to push through his budget without a vote

  • After the vote, Marine Le Pen, of the far-right National Rally described his budget as "toxic", while the far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon called Barnier's downfall "inevitable"

  • President Macron says he will address the nation on Thursday evening

  • The BBC's Hugh Schofield says it's a worrying moment for France, with no obvious prospect of the political crisis being resolved any time soon

Barnier loses no-confidence vote

Live Reporting

Edited by Nathan Williams, with Hugh Schofield reporting from Paris

  1. 'Everyone will pay for upheaval' – voters react

    A woman in a coat looks off into the distanceFrance TV

    People on the streets of Paris have been telling French TV about their thoughts on the no-confidence vote.

    "I'm neither left nor right, but at least we have stability," said one woman.

    "If we start all over again, it's not constructive for France."

    Another person said she supported Barnier and that he had "managed to put a bit of calm in a pretty rotten basket".

    A third woman said "everyone's going to pay" for the political upheaval.

  2. Macron returns to France after Saudi Arabia visit

    audi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman meets with French President Emmanuel Macron in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, December 3, 2024Reuters

    We are just hearing reports from French media that Emmanuel Macron is now on his way back to Paris. This follows a three day trip to the Middle East, and the president is expected to land on French soil later this evening.

    There is no suggestion that Macron is returning to France sooner than planned, and it is not common for a president to be involved in no-confidence debates.

    Remember, today's vote won't directly affect Macron's position - France votes for its president separately from its government.

    While in the Middle East, Macron has been meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where the pair worked towards de-escalating conflict in the region.

  3. The budget that triggered the vote

    Michel Barnier close up cutting off just below the shoulders. He's in a dark blue suite, dark tie and white shirt. The background is blurred but at least three people can be seen standing behind himGetty Images

    Barnier's budget bill sought to rein in France's spiralling deficit through €60bn (£49bn) in tax rises and spending cuts.

    The French PM was forced to make concessions to critics including National Rally (RN) leader Marine Le Pen who demanded he remove a new tax on electricity, and restore fully index-linked pensions.

    Despite the changes, the budget remained unacceptable to the opposition and after RN joined the left-wing parties in opposing it, Barnier used a special procedure – known as article 49.3 – to push it through.

    "I don't think French people will forgive us for choosing party interests over the future of the country," Barnier told MPs on Monday as he explained the reasons for his decision.

  4. Barnier arrives at the National Assembly

    Michel BarnierReuters

    The prime minister has arrived at the National Assembly, where he will face a vote of no confidence.

    This is in response to Michel Barnier pushing through his 2025 budget without parliamentary support.

    The National Assembly session opens at 15:00 GMT (16:00 CET).

  5. How will this affect Macron?

    French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron wait for the arrival of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed TinubuReuters

    Today's vote of no confidence won't directly affect Emmanuel Macron's role as French president.

    In the French system, the role of prime minister is separate from the president, who is directly elected by French people every five years.

    In 2022 Macron made history by becoming the first French president to be re-elected in 20 years.

    This means he still has three more years to run in his second term – the next set of elections is expected to happen no later than April 2027.

    But, ahead of the government's no confidence vote, several sides are calling for Macron to resign sooner.

    On Tuesday, though, the French president made it clear he intended to do no such thing. He said he will "honour [the trust of the French people]... until the very last second of my term to serve the country".

  6. What happens today?

    Laura Gozzi
    Europe reporter

    French National Assembly in session as Michel Barnier pushes through budget without a vote. Michel Barnier stands at centre of picture as MPs sitting on red benches look aroundGetty Images

    The session at the French National Assembly opens at 15:00 GMT (16:00 CET).

    Two factions triggered the no-confidence vote: the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) and the far-right National Rally (RN).

    The NFP has more MPs and therefore more signatures in favour of the vote – so its motion will be debated first. A NFP MP will explain the reasons for triggering the vote of no confidence, followed by an RN MP.

    Barnier will have a right to reply, and then members of the other parliamentary groups will present their own arguments.

    The vote is then expected to take place around 18:00 GMT (19:00 CET).

  7. What is article 49.3 and why did Barnier use it?

    A few minutes ago we reported Michel Barnier triggered a vote of no confidence in his government by using Article 49.3 of the French constitution to push his budget though parliament. But what is it?

    The article states that the government can force the passage of bill in the National Assembly without a vote.

    However, MPs can then cancel that law by passing a motion of no confidence in the government - effectively removing the prime minister.

    The vote can take place at the earliest 48 hours after the motion is tabled.

    Article 49.3 has been used 113 times since the establishment of the current republican system in France - the fifth republic - in 1958.

  8. No-confidence vote puts France on track for turbulent times

    Hugh Schofield
    Paris correspondent

    Prime Minister Barnier has warned that if he is voted out of office today, an already worrying social and economic situation in the country will only get worse.

    There’ll be no budget for 2025 so emergency measures will be needed to keep the country solvent.

    The cost of servicing France’s monumental debt will increase as lenders take fright; and turbulence on the markets could too easily be mirrored by turbulence on the street.

    But none of this seems to have altered the determination of his opponents in bring his government to an end.

    By early evening he’ll know if he’s been voted out of office – becoming the shortest-serving prime minister in the fifth republic – and if President Macron’s search for a replacement is once again under way.

  9. Michel Barnier's journey from Monsieur Brexit to French PM

    Michel Barnier speaks to the press outside the European Commission building in Brussels. He's standing in front of three hand-held mics wearing a dark suit, blue tie and light blue shirtGetty Images

    Michel Barnier can count more than 50 years in politics, but he is best known even in his native France as the EU’s chief negotiator in the Brexit years.

    His task was to represent the European Union during talks with the UK government and he was widely praised for his attention to detail and ability to reach consensus.

    Barnier has been a committed, patriotic conservative in the tradition of French leader Charles de Gaulle since he was a teenager.

    His nomination as Brexit negotiator was a surprise for some of Barnier’s fellow Frenchmen, who had never held him in particularly high esteem. On the EU side, however, he was well known for being diligent, methodical and, crucially, cool-headed

    Soon after that peak was conquered and a deal was signed in December 2020, he began his ascent to the next one, launching a bid to be conservative candidate in the 2022 French presidential election.

    He was ultimately unsuccessful, and for the past three years Barnier has made little noise.

    Although Barnier is still primarily known as Monsieur Brexit, Emmanuel Macron likely picked him to be prime minister due to their pro-European stance and right-wing leanings on the economic front.

  10. French government on brink as PM Barnier faces no-confidence vote

    Rorey Bosotti
    Live editor

    French Prime Minister Michel Barnier delivers a speech during a debate on the at the National Assembly in ParisReuters

    Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of the upcoming vote of no confidence in French Prime Minister Michel Barnier.

    France's government appears to be on the brink of collapse after Barnier failed to guarantee enough support in parliament for his social security budget.

    The French PM had made last-minute concessions to secure the backing of MPs for the bill which sought to rein in France's spiralling deficit.

    But he ultimately used executive powers under article 49.3 of the French constitution, meaning the bill was passed without a vote.

    Responding to the move, both the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) and Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) tabled motions of no confidence in Barnier.

    A debate on the future of the French prime minister is set to start at 15:00 GMT (16:00 CET) today, with a vote on whether to remove him to follow around 18:00 GMT (19:00 CET).

    Barnier's minority government, which was installed less than 100 days ago, is unlikely to survive the vote. Its collapse would mark the first time a French government is toppled by a vote of no confidence following the use of article 49.3.

    Stay with us and we will bring you the latest updates as they happen.