Emmanuel Macron, France’s president, had barely landed from Saudi Arabia when he lost another prime minister, his third this year. On December 4th, in a vote of no confidence, an unholy alliance of the left and Marine Le Pen’s hard-right National Rally (RN) brought down Michel Barnier, a conservative he has shared power with since September, by a total of 331 deputies, 43 more than was needed. The vote followed Mr Barnier’s use of a special provision to force his budget through parliament. It marks the first time deputies have toppled a government since 1962. With Mr Barnier, the budget falls too, plunging France into yet more political instability. Mr Macron’s great centrist project is unravelling fast.