France: Macron Rejects Calls to Quit, Slams Extreme Left And Right
The Facts
Pres. Emmanuel Macron addressed France on Thursday, soon after the collapse of Prime Minister Michel Barnier's minority government following Wednesday's no-confidence vote.
331 out of 577 National Assembly members voted to remove Barnier's government — the first successful no confidence motion since 1962 — after he tried to pass the 2025 budget without a vote.
The Spin
Right narrative
While Macron clings onto power, it is clear to all outside of the Élysée that the President must leave. Meanwhile, Barnier's disastrous tenure shows that a majority must be commanded within the National Assembly if the country is to be saved from its stasis — and polling shows that National Rally's Jordan Bardella is the preferred candidate of the French people.
Left narrative
While Barnier may have fallen, the hundreds of thousands of people protesting on the streets of France are a stark reminder of the dire state of affairs for which Macron remains responsible. With France now on the brink, it is up to the New Popular Front to delicately balance its Left-wing coalition within government and lead France into a new era of reform and social justice.
Pro-establishment narrative
Macron's upcoming choice of prime minister is a make or break moment for the President. With sharks circling both on the left and right of the political spectrum, it is important for Macron to restore stability — even if by unconventional means — in order to prevent an economic and geopolitical crisis.