Emmanuel Macron cannot be forced out by parliament, and his term in office runs until the middle of 2027.
Even if the no-confidence vote in Michel Barnier passes, Macron will be under no obligation to resign.
Not that he is considering this as a potential outcome. He has said he will stay in his role “until the last second, so as to be useful to the country”.
Macron’s opposition have been split somewhat over what he should do.
Jordan Bardella, the president of far-right party National Rally, said Macron was “respectful of institutions” and that “there is no justification at this time for the president of the Republic to leave.”
But Eric Coquerel, of La France Insoumise – a leading party in the left-wing New Popular Front alliance – has called for Macron to resign and for presidential elections to take place.
“This government has never had any legitimacy and the responsibility for it lies more with Mr Macron than Mr Barnier,” he said.