Macron seeks remedy to France’s political crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday will seek ways out of France’s political crisis, after Michel Barnier became the first prime minister to be ousted by parliament in over six decades.

Lawmakers voted on Wednesday to oust Barnier’s government after just three months in office, approving a no-confidence motion proposed by the hard left but which crucially was backed by the far-right headed by Marine Le Pen.

Barnier’s record-quick ejection comes after snap parliamentary elections this summer, which resulted in a hung parliament with no party having an overall majority and the far-right holding the key to the government’s survival.

Macron now has the unenviable task of picking a viable successor with over two years of his presidential term left, with some – though not all – opponents calling on him to resign.

Barnier on Thursday met Macron to submit his resignation after losing a vote of no confidence in parliament, with the president urgently seeking ways to halt growing political and financial chaos.