President Macron is expected to name a new prime minister within hours to replace Michel Barnier and will make a televised address to the nation this evening as France faces a crisis reverberating across Europe.
Barnier went to the Élysée Palace to tender his resignation to the president on Thursday morning after losing a confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday night. Their meeting lasted nearly an hour but neither Macron nor Barnier made an immediate announcement afterwards to confirm the resignation.
After only three months in office, Barnier was ousted by parliament over his move to force though a belt-tightening budget without allowing MPs to vote.
Michel Barnier resigned after losing a confidence vote in parliament on Wednesday evening
ALAIN JOCARD/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Macron is now facing intensifying opposition calls to quit before the end of his term, due in 2027. He