The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has ruled out resigning, saying he will stay in power until the end of his term in 2027 and will appoint a new prime minister in the coming days, after the government's historic collapse plunged France into political turmoil.
"You have given me a democratic mandate of five years and I'll carry it out fully until its term," he said in a televised speech to the French people late yesterday.
Macron, who is facing the worst political crisis of his two terms as president, criticised what he called the "cynicism", lack of responsibility and "sense of chaos" of opposition politicians who toppled the government in a no-confidence vote on Wednesday, ending the beleaguered minority coalition of the rightwing prime minister, Michel Barnier, after only three months.
Macron said he would not be held responsible for that chaos himself. He said: "I won't shoulder other people's irresponsibility." He would appoint a prime minister "in the coming days" and instruct them to form a government "in the general interest, representing all political forces who can take part", or who, at least, would undertake not to bring the government down, he said.
Wednesday's no-confidence vote was supported by an alliance of leftwing parties as well as MPs from Marine Le Pen's anti-immigration, far-right National Rally, with a total of 331 lawmakers - a clear majority - voting to topple the government. Macron accused Le Pen's party of "choosing disorder".
France, which faces a growing public deficit, risks ending the year without a 2025 budget or a stable government, although the constitution allows special measures that would avert a US-style government shutdown.
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