'Will appoint new PM in coming days': French President Emmanuel Macron after Michel Barnier's ouster

In a 10-minute address to the nation, Macron thanked Barnier for his work during a brief term and said, "I will appoint a new Prime Minister in the coming days."

The President has trashed the Opposition's pressure on him to quit and asserted that he would continue till the expiry of his term in 2027.

Both the left and far-right MPs backed the no-confidence motion in ousting Barnier by an overwhelming 331 votes, 43 more than what was required.

Barnier was ousted just three months after he was appointed to his office by President Emmanuel Macron.

The opposition lawmakers presented the no-confidence motion after Barnier forced through his budget using special constitutional power without a single vote being casted.

This is the first time since 1962 a French government has collapsed in a no-confidence vote.

Both the left and far-right parties have criticised Barnier's budget.

New Popular Front (NPF), the left-wing alliance, had earlier criticised Macron's appointment of Barnier to the PM's office.

The far-right National Rally termed the budget "unacceptable". Its leader Marine Le Pen called the budget "toxic for the French".

Ahead of the no-confidence vote, Barnier had said as quoted by BBC News, "We have reached a moment of truth, of responsibility."

"We need to look at the realities of our debt."

In a recent interview, Le Pen said Barnier's ousting is the only solution at the present moment.