MPs voted overwhelmingly in support of the motion against him – just three months after he was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron.
The former Brexit negotiator controversially used special powers to force through his budget without a vote by invoking presidential decree after failing to win enough support for the measures.
This is the first time the government has collapsed in a no-confidence vote since 1962.
France’s political instability will happen, after snap elections in summer led to one group achieving a majority.
Both the left and right tabled motions of no-confidence. The left-wing alliance New Popular Front (NPF), which won the most seats in the parliamentary elections, criticised Macron’s decision to appoint Barnier as prime minister over its own candidate.
Barnier’s budget included €60bn in deficit reduction.
Marine Le Pen, the RN leader, said the budget was “toxic for the French”.
Ahead of the vote, Barnier told the National Assembly that voting him out of office would not solve the country’s financial problems. “We have reached a moment of truth, of responsibility. We need to look at the realities of our debt.”
Le Pen said that she was not seeking President Emmanuel Macron’s resignation,
but added that “if we do not respect the voice of voters and show respect for political forces and respect for elections”, then pressure on the president will “obviously be stronger and stronger”.
No new parliamentary elections can be held until July, so the current deadlock in the Assembly – where no group can have a working majority – is set to continue.
[Photo: Screenshot/EuroNews]