French politics hit a rough patch as Michel Barnier – who served as prime-minister for just three months (the shortest term in modern history) left his post after parliament voted against his budget plans
The shake-up left President Emmanuel Macron searching for a new leader: he must pick someone before the Notre-Dame Cathedral re-opening this weekend. A temp budget law needs approval by mid-dec‚ and theres pressure to get things done fast
- Markets showed quick gains after Barnierʼs exit
- Standard & Poorʼs thinks France might ease up on money-saving plans
- Political mess could last till next possible vote in july-2025
Macron pushed back at critics saying he wont step down: “My five-year job isnt done yet – ill stay till may-2027.“ He blamed the mess on far-right and left-wing groups that made an “anti-republican“ team-up to push out his pick for PM
The summer-2024 Olympics and Notre-Dame fix-up show what France can do: “We make the impossible happen; the world looks up to us“ – but now Macron needs someone who can work with this split-up parliament (which came from his not-so-smart choice to have a quick vote last june)