French President Emmanuel Macron on the 5th (local time) condemned the left-wing and far-right parties for passing a no-confidence motion against the government, saying they "have chosen disorder" and expressed his determination not to succumb to opposition pressure to resign.
In a nationally televised address that evening, President Macron expressed regret that "despite Prime Minister Michel Barnier's concessions to all parliamentary groups, the government was still voted no confidence," and criticized that "the far-right and far-left have formed an anti-republican front to topple the budget and the French government." The French National Assembly voted on the no-confidence motion proposed by the left-wing coalition New Popular Front (NFP) the previous day, passing the motion with 331 votes in favor. The NFP, far-right parties, and their allied forces all voted in favor, marking the first time since the Georges Pompidou government in 1962 that the cabinet has faced a collapse crisis.
President Macron emphasized that the left and far-right camps are responsible for causing national turmoil. He particularly pointed out that the far-right National Rally (RN) agreed to the no-confidence motion from the left-wing coalition, which is politically on the opposite spectrum, saying, "They have insulted the voters who elected them."
President Macron clearly drew a line against resigning. He stressed, "The authority you have democratically entrusted to me is for five years, and I will fully exercise that authority until the end."
President Macron announced, "I will appoint a successor prime minister within a few days." He said, "I will entrust him to form a government that represents the common interest," adding, "This government will be composed of political forces that can participate in the government or at least promise not to vote no confidence."
He also stated that the priority for the next government is the "budget," and requested parliamentary cooperation, saying, "A special law will be submitted to the parliament before mid-December to ensure public services and the continuity of the state." If the parliament rejects even this special law, in the worst case, the absence of a budget could paralyze public administrative functions.
He urged the parliament, as representatives of the people, to fulfill their responsibilities, saying, "No matter what happens, new elections cannot be held for the time being, and in this situation, the parliament has an obligation to work together for France and the French people." President Macron dissolved the parliament and decided on an early general election in June under his presidential authority. According to the French constitution, the president can exercise the right to dissolve the parliament only once a year.
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