French President vows to stay in office until 2027 while announcing a new Prime Minister after a historic no-confidence vote

French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed he will name a new prime minister “in the coming days,” following the resignation of Michel Barnier after a no-confidence vote in parliament. Barnier’s removal, which marks the first time in over 60 years that a French government has been voted out of office, was a result of growing political turmoil and opposition pressure.

In a national address, Macron rejected calls for his own resignation, asserting that he would remain in his post “fully, until the end of the mandate” in 2027. He praised Barnier for his dedication during his brief term but condemned the actions of the far-right and hard-left factions in parliament, accusing them of collaborating in an “anti-republican front” to destabilise his government.

Barnier, who had been appointed prime minister just three months ago, was ousted after MPs overwhelmingly voted to remove him on Wednesday. The vote, which saw 331 MPs in support of the motion, was triggered by his use of special powers to push through a controversial budget without parliamentary approval, sparking outrage from both the New Popular Front (NFP) left-wing alliance and Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN). The budget was automatically withdrawn following Barnier’s resignation, and he will remain in office as a caretaker until a new prime minister is appointed.

Macron admitted that his decision to call snap elections in July had contributed to the political crisis, acknowledging that many voters felt disillusioned by the resulting deadlock in parliament. Despite the criticism, he stressed that his opponents had chosen “chaos over responsibility,” and he urged them to focus on the welfare of the French people rather than the next presidential race.

Speculation is rife over who will succeed Barnier as prime minister, with potential candidates including Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, and centrist former presidential candidate François Bayrou. However, given the fractured nature of parliament, finding a candidate who can command majority support could prove challenging, as evidenced by the temporary appointment of Gabriel Attal as caretaker PM earlier this year.

The appointment of the new prime minister is expected to be made before Saturday, when world leaders, including US President-elect Donald Trump, are due to attend the opening ceremony of the rebuilt Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. The cathedral, which was severely damaged in a 2019 fire, has been praised for its swift and impressive reconstruction, a symbol of France’s resilience.

Macron highlighted the importance of this achievement, along with the successful organisation of the 2024 Olympics, as evidence of France’s ability to achieve “the impossible.” He emphasised that these milestones proved that France can still accomplish great things, despite the ongoing political challenges.