Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL Macron has vowed to name a new prime minister “in the coming days” after the resignation of Michel Barnier, whose government was toppled by a no-confidence vote in parliament.
Barnier earlier handed in his resignation to Macron, following his loss in a vote of no confidence in parliament last night, with the president urgently seeking ways to halt growing political and financial chaos.
According to a statement today, Barnier will stay on in a caretaker role until a new government can be appointed.
“The prime minister today submitted the resignation of his government” to President Emmanuel Macron, who has “taken note” of the resignation, the president’s Elysee Palace said.
Barnier and his ministers remain “in charge of daily business until the appointment of a new government”, it added.
Poised to be contemporary France’s shortest-serving premier, Barnier arrived at the Elysee Palace just after 9am Ireland time this morning for the resignation formality.
In an address to the nation, Macron rejected calls from opponents to resign, saying he would remain president “fully” until the end of the mandate in 2027.
He also lashed out at the French far right and hard left for uniting in an “anti-republican front” to bring down the government.
“I will appoint a prime minister in the coming days,” he said, adding this person would be charged with forming a “government of general interest” with a priority of passing a budget.
Defiantly rejecting resignation calls, he added: “The mandate that you gave to me democratically [in 2022 elections] is a five-year mandate and I will exercise it fully, right up to the end.”
He said the far-right National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen had its eyes on the 2027 presidential elections, accusing the party of seeking to sow “chaos”.
“They are not thinking about your lives, let’s be honest. They are thinking of just one thing – the presidential election,” said Macron, who must step down at the end of his term.
But he admitted his decision to call snap parliamentary elections this summer, which resulted in a hung parliament, “was not understood”.
“Many have blamed me for it and I know, many continue to blame me. It’s a fact and it’s my responsibility,” he said.
© Agence France-Presse
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Sure they’ll just buy them out from under the nose of first time buyers with the 7 billion housing budget and push prices higher!
On of the people that work with me was lucky enough to get a socially affordable home two years ago in a new limerick estate after 12 years on a list. When I call to help out with odd jobs it’s like visiting a foreign country as 2/3 are recently arrived and housed within 18 months of a successful application for asylum.
The rent is also means tested so my mortgage is actually cheaper.
Next election people should ask every candidate that calls to their door one simple question.
Please name 5 things you or your party have actually done for this community. Then film the answers.
What are people on about a housing crisis we’ve 158 units built there and plenty of fields for tents for people to get they’re bearings when they arrive. There’s plenty of extra tax fund from this budget i hear so more modular homes. Irish can look for a loan for an extension to house they’re families at granny and grandads house, that’s anyone fortunate enough to have parents who are lucky to own one. The rest can save up 5000 and head for Australia or USA cos they don’t allow you in otherwise,have a job lined up and no criminal record,opposite here though oddly unfortunately.
@Paddy C: you’re a tad off on the US there Paddy
I suppose it’s fair to say nothing has changed and nothing will ever change when FFG in charge.
I assume that number excludes the homes built for Ukrainians et al
Yawn. News ceases to become news (as in what is new) when one can foresee the future.
I propose that William Slevin gets deported. His tent or house will then become available to help ease the accommodation crisis.
Any seconders?
A Govt that lost the people & the moral authority to govern a long time ago. Listening to Harris speaking every day shows that he has no interest or concerns for the ordinary working Irish taxpayer, spends his days pandering to those arriving in record numbers every week, people are sick of it.
Too many, we need rental houses for us capitalists :)
@John D Doe: No rental houses for capitalists means less houses for people who want to rent! Landlords are needed despite being vilified all the time……. I’d choose to have more small time landlords over REITs anyday because the REITs profits go abroad and pay as little tax as possible!
Cooking The Books
My daughter has 3 young children with autism & asthma her husband took his own life 5yrs ago. She’s been on the housing list for 11yrs now with she currently lives in a private rented house paying €1500 a month. The house is damp and has black mould everywhere it’s so bad that she has to share her room with all 3 kids because the kids bedrooms are so bad. her kitchen and bathroom are a total health hazard with mould, she can’t ask the landlord to fix it because the people that were in it before her were given notice to quit because he was selling up, a for sale went up for the house for 3mths then went down and house was rented out then to her she knows he will do the same if she complains, there are 19 houses empty in our town some have been empty 3yrs there is no sense to it
have your say