BREAKING: French Lawmakers Remove Prime Minister

France Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, has been ousted as left and far right parties unite to vote in support of a motion of no confidence — the first of its kind since 1962.

A total of 331 legislators out of the country’s 577 lower house of parliament members on Wednesday, voted to remove Barnier’s minority government.

This will plunge the country into political turmoil as it struggles to reduce a soaring budget deficit.

Far-right National Rally (RN) leader Marine Le Pen had on Monday announced her party’s motion on accusing Barnier of worsening the country’s woes since his appointment in September.

“The French have had enough,” Le Pen declared, adding that the RN would also support a similar motion tabled by the left-wing coalition.

The fallout already unsettled financial markets, with investors dumping French assets, widening bond spreads, and weakening the euro.

Speaking to the National Assembly on Wednesday just before the vote, Barnier said voting him out will not solve the budget issues, defending his government’s budget policies.

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

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

He insisted he pushed his budget through parliamentary consultation, as he worked with both chambers of parliament to develop the document, adding that he is “not afraid” of being voted out, and has “rarely been afraid” in his long political career.

According to him what is most important “is our capacity to take steps towards each other” and to “go above the general interest” to take steps forward, whether they are big or small.

He assured the lawmakers of his willingness to work constructively with anyone who seeks these aims, adding that it has “been an honour” to have served as prime minister.

The parliament, however, proceeded to pass a historic no-confidence vote against the prime minister.

The crisis stems from Macron’s snap election call in June, which resulted in a divided parliament.

Barnier’s minority government relied heavily on RN support, but that partnership crumbled over disagreements on the budget bill, which proposed €60bn in tax hikes and spending cuts to curb France’s soaring public deficit.