PARIS — French Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government collapsed on Wednesday, triggering an unprecedented political crisis that threatens the stability of the eurozone.
The far-right National Rally and left-wing New Popular Front alliance joined forces to pass a no-confidence motion after Barnier tried to force through part of an austere budget aimed at reducing France’s massive deficit.
Pressure now mounts on President Emmanuel Macron, who is resisting growing calls to resign, to find a new prime minister who can right the ship and prove that the EU’s second-largest economy has not become ungovernable.
Barnier will leave office having served the shortest prime ministerial term in the history of the modern French republic, which was established in 1958.
This developing news story will be updated.