French government collapses in no-confidence vote

His overthrowing will further France’s current political instability, after snap elections in summer led to no single group having a majority in parliament.

MPs were required to either vote yes or abstain from Wednesday’s vote, with 288 votes needed for the motion to pass. A total of 331 voted in support of the motion.

Both the far right and radical left had tabled motions of no-confidence after Barnier pushed through reforms to social security by invoking presidential decree on Monday after failing to win enough support for the measures.

The left-wing alliance New Popular Front (NFP), which won the most seats in the parliamentary elections, had heavily criticised Macron’s decision to appoint centrist Barnier over its own candidate.

Alongside the far-right National Rally (RN), it had deemed Barnier’s budget – which included €60bn (£49bn) in deficit reduction – unacceptable.

Ahead of the vote, Barnier had told the National Assembly that voting him out of office would not solve the country’s financial problems.

“We have reached a moment of truth, of responsibility,” he said, adding that “we need to look at the realities of our debt”.

“It is not a pleasure that I propose difficult measures.”

Barnier is likely to stay on as caretaker while Macron chooses a successor.

Macron will not be directly affected by the result of the vote as France votes for its president separately from its government.

But the fallout has led to increasing calls for him to resign before his current term ends in 2027.