Emmanuel Macron to Address the Nation Following the Censure of the Barnier Government

The President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, will address the nation on Thursday, December 5, at 8 p.m., following the fall of his Prime Minister. This speech comes a day after the adoption of a motion of censure filed by the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) against Michel Barnier’s government.

On Wednesday, December 4, the motion of censure was passed by 331 deputies, far exceeding the absolute majority threshold of 288 votes. This historic vote forces Michel Barnier to resign, making him the shortest-serving Prime Minister in the history of the Fifth Republic. A second motion, filed by the Rassemblement National, becomes irrelevant following the adoption of the first.

A Tense Political Context

Before the vote, Emmanuel Macron expressed doubts about the outcome of the motion, denouncing a “truly unsustainable cynicism” if the RN were to join forces with the NFP. For his part, Michel Barnier emphasized the responsibility of each deputy, urging them to prioritize “the nation’s greater good.”

What Comes Next?

The President’s team has not yet provided details about the timeline for appointing a new Prime Minister. Michel Barnier will officially submit his resignation to Emmanuel Macron on Thursday morning at 10 a.m.