Why President Macron has no plans to change course despite fall of Michel Barnier’s government
A vote of no confidence brought down prime minister Michel Barnier’s short-lived administration last night, something that has only happened once before under France' Fifth Republic, and that was in 1962. Yet the vote – backed by 331 French MPs - will not persuade President Emmanuel Macron to change course. On the contrary, says Mediapart's political correspondent Ilyes Ramdani, the head of state is now actively seeking solutions from among his most loyal supporters about how to hold on until the summer when fresh parliamentary elections can be held.
ThroughoutThroughout Tuesday afternoon rumours were circulating among the journalists accompanying Emmanuel Macron on his trip to Saudi Arabia. The French president “wants to speak”, his entourage revealed. No cameras, no sound, the Élysée insisted, but everything was “on the record” provided the president’s remarks were published only after 6.45 pm that day. This move was seen as a slight to his prime minister, Michel Barnier, who was scheduled to speak just over an hour later on the main evening news bulletins on television channels TF1 and France 2.
