French PM Barnier: From Brexit to his Exit

French President Emmanuel Macron believed that his Prime Minister Michel Barnier, whom he had appointed on 5 September this year, had the right cards to fulfil his role; an impeccable CV, robust political experience, the super Brexit negotiator on behalf of the European Union between 2016 and 2021, mature like fine wine, with a Gaullist heritage and a lack of personal ambitions for then ex-Presidential elections in 2027.

- Roshan Bourget

Despite his immense potential, Barnier, the former European Commissioner, failed. Deprived of a majority in the National Assembly or the Lower House of the Parliament, he was overthrown on Wednesday evening. One may as well call Barnier, 'the ephemeral PM of French history,' having spent only 2 months and 29 days at the PM's office, what the French call the Matignon.

His attempt to apply article 49.3 of the French Constitution to the Social Security budget didn't go down very well with the other deputies of the Parliament. This omnipotent article 49.3 allows the government to pass a law without a vote unless the Parliament passes a vote of no confidence against the government. And this is exactly what happened in the French Parliament.