By Enyichukwu Enemanna
French President Emmanuel Macron says he has no intention to quit office, and is aiming to complete his five-year mandate despite the recent vote of no confidence in his administration that led to the resignation of Prime Minister Michel Barnier.
The French leader instead said his responsibility is to ensure the continuity of the state, the proper functioning of institutions, and the protection of the French people.
“Finally, the mandate that you democratically entrusted to me is a five-year mandate, and I will exercise it fully until its end. My responsibility requires ensuring the continuity of the state, the proper functioning of our institutions, the independence of our country, and the protection of all of you,” Macron said in a televised address.
While addressing the nation on Thursday from the Élysée Palace, Macron added, “I have been doing this from the beginning, at your side, through social crises, the COVID-19 epidemic, the return of war, inflation, and so many trials that we have shared.”
Macron also said that in the coming days, he will appoint a replacement for Barnier as Prime Minister.
“From today, a new era must begin where everyone must act for France and where new compromises must be built. Because the planet is moving forward, because the challenges are numerous, and because we must be ambitious for France. We cannot afford divisions or inaction,” Macron noted.
“This is why I will appoint a Prime Minister in the coming days. I will charge him with forming a government of general interest, representing all the political forces of an arc of government, who can participate in it or at least who undertake not to censor it. The Prime Minister will have to lead these consultations and form a tight government at your service,” he added.
He also praised the former French Prime Minister, Barnier, for his “dedication and tenacity.”
Macron said, “The Prime Minister handed me his resignation and that of his government, and I have taken note of it. I would like to thank Michel Barnier for the work he has done for the country, for his dedication, and for his tenacity. He and his ministers rose to the occasion when so many others did not.”
331 members of the 577-seat lower house of the French parliament voted to remove Barnier’s centrist minority government, throwing the country into political instability as it faces a growing budget deficit.
The vote of no confidence by the far-left and far-right opposition parties came after Barnier used special powers to push through budget measures without approval by the parliament.
Barnier served only 91 days as Prime Minister, while his government, consisting of centrist and right-wing ministers, lasted just 74 days, as reported by Euronews.
He led a fragile minority government composed of President Macron’s centrist party and the right-wing Les Républicains (LR), but the alliance was informal and lacked an absolute majority.
Macron’s second term in office will expire in 2027.
