French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation this Thursday evening where he said he would appoint a new prime minister in the coming days, while refusing to resign.
The French president made the first reaction after the government fell due to a motion of no confidence in the lower house of the country's parliament.
"I will charge him to form a government of national interest, representing all political forces within the republican arc ," he said.
Prime Minister Michel Barnier's minority government was ousted by a vote backed by parties on the left and right after he passed the social security budget by skipping a vote in parliament.
France's parliament is deeply divided and new elections are not allowed until July 2025. The chances of forming a stable government appear slim.
Macron himself vowed to stay as President until 2027
"The mandate that you democratically entrusted to me is a five-year mandate and I will fully exercise it until the end ," Macron said. Calls for him to leave have increased, especially from the left-wing coalition.
However, under the Constitution, the President is not obliged to do so and new presidential elections will not affect the composition of the highly fragmented National Assembly.
The main priority of the new government will be the budget, with a temporary law to ensure the continued operation of public services.
Macron also indicated that early next year, a new budget law will be introduced by the government to avoid any inflation-related tax increases.
Macron blames the far left for the fall of the government. He said his decision to call early elections at the beginning of the year was not understood, adding that "I returned your vote".
"The extreme right and the extreme left have united in an anti-republican front with the help of the forces that until yesterday governed France" , he pointed at the members of the Socialist Party.
"Some want to make me responsible for this situation because it's a more comfortable position for them," Macron said, refusing to take the blame, especially as the holidays approach.
He thanked Barnier for his service.
"I want to thank Michel Barnier for his dedication, persistence and hard work. He and his team rose to the occasion when others did not ," Macron said.