French President Macron Shifts Blame for Government Collapse

French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to acknowledge or take responsibility for the collapse of Michel Barnier’s government, blaming “cynical” and “anti-Republican” opposition politicians.

On Thursday, Mr. Macron, 46, issued a defiant 10-minute televised address in which he denied the possibility of resigning more than two years prior to the conclusion of his tenure. He declared that he would continue to serve his “full mandate” until 2027.

The French president has committed to appointing a new prime minister in the near future and draughting a new budget measure by a new government of the willing early next year.

After losing a vote of no-confidence in his government the previous day, Mr. Barnier, 73, tendered his resignation on Thursday. Consequently, France’s oldest prime minister also became its shortest-serving.

“Until the appointment of a new government, he and his ministers will be responsible for daily business,” according to the Telegraph.

Macron promises solution

Mr. Macron endeavoured to rectify the situation with the French electorate and the opposition during his brief address.

Mr. Macron took full responsibility for his decision to hold snap elections in June and July, which he said had been “misunderstood” and “criticised,” and thanked Mr. Barnier for “rising to the occasion, as so many others have not.”

“I shall never assume the negligence of others, particularly the MPs who have deliberately chosen to undermine France’s budget and government mere days before Christmas.”

On Thursday, Ms. Le Pen stated that the French president’s resignation was not appropriate at this time.

“That can only occur, in my opinion, when a political crisis or an institutional crisis can no longer be resolved through the resignation of the president of the republic,” she stated in an interview with Bloomberg. She noted that this was not the case at the moment.

Rather, the populist opposition figure pledged to “collaborate” with the incoming prime minister and maintained that a budget could be approved within a matter of weeks.

Macron to Blame

However, polls conducted on Thursday indicate that the French are primarily attributing the most severe political crisis to Macron since 1958, when Charles de Gaulle returned from retirement to establish the Fifth Republic and prevent civil war.

An Odaxa Backbone survey revealed that six out of ten individuals now desire Macron’s resignation, while a Toluna Harris Interactive poll indicated that an even greater number, 64 percent, desired his departure.

Mathilde Panot, the chair of the parliamentary faction of the hard-Left France Unbowed (LFI) party, has advocated for “early presidential elections,” stating, “We are now calling on Macron to go.”

According to Mr. Macron, he will not be resigning until 2027, and French law prohibits the holding of new legislative elections until July of the following year.

Simultaneously, there is considerable speculation regarding the individual whom Mr. Macron will select to succeed Mr. Barnier.

He is eager to designate a replacement before dozens of heads of state, including the newly elected US president, Donald Trump, descend on Paris for a ceremony to reopen Notre-Dame on Saturday, according to a variety of sources.

Related News:

France’s Macron Says Arrest Of The Head Of The Telegram Messaging App Wasn’t Political

France’s Right-Wing Leader Le Pen Projected to Win Snap Election