French President Emmanuel Macron is set to appoint the new prime minister Friday, his office announced on Thursday. This decision extends the timeline Macron had set earlier this week, when he had pledged to name a successor to Michel Barnier within 48 hours of his resignation.
According to Reuters, Barnier’s resignation marks him as the shortest-serving prime minister in modern French history, stepping down just three months after his appointment. His fiscal strategy, aimed at addressing France’s growing deficit, was met with fierce opposition, culminating in a no-confidence vote.
The political upheaval marks France’s second major crisis in six months, underscoring growing challenges for Macron’s administration.
The new prime minister will face the immediate task of forming a government capable of navigating a fragmented parliament while addressing the pressing economic and social challenges facing France.
“The priority will be the budget,” Macron had said in an earlier statement on the search for a new PM.
