For the first time since 1962, a French government failed to secure a vote of confidence in the National Assembly, leading to the collapse of Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s administration.
The center-right minority government, in office for just three months, was brought down by 331 votes, with far-right and left-wing deputies uniting against it. The backlash stemmed from Barnier’s use of special constitutional powers to pass parts of his controversial €60 billion budget-saving plan without a parliamentary vote.
Barnier is expected to resign, along with his cabinet, submitting his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron.