French Prime Minister & EU’s top Brexit hardman Michel Barnier RESIGNS after Macron’s embattled government collapses

EMBARRASSED Michel Barnier has resigned as French prime minister after losing a no-confidence motion.

Barnier, who served as one of the negotiators during Brexit, has now become his country’s shortest-serving prime minister ever.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier reacts after the result of the no-confidence vote

AFP

Barnier leaves after delivering a speech during the debate prior to the no-confidence votes[/caption]

He will remain in office on a caretaker basis with his ministers until a new government is named, the presidency said.

“The prime minister today submitted the resignation of his government” to President Emmanuel Macron, who has “taken note” of the resignation, the Elysee said.

Barnier and his ministers remain “in charge of daily business until the appointment of a new government”, it added.

President Emmanuel Macron is clinging onto power after another damaging political blow saw his government left in disarray.

His government collapsed last night after a historic vote of no-confidence was passed against Prime Minister Michel Barnier in the National Assembly.

Macron is now on the hunt for his sixth PM during his stint as president but it comes amid calls for him to ultimately resign.

The president has constantly vowed to serve out his term until 2027 despite his political rivals now calling for him to step down immediately.

The deputy of the far-left La France Insoumise party, Manuel Bompard, claimed today that Macron must leave to regain a sense of stability in Paris.

He told RTL France: “We are facing a situation of instability.

“I do not see, given the configuration of the National Assembly and the inability to compromise, a stable situation emerging.”

He also warned the next PM that they are walking into a poisoned seat.

Bompard is adamant that another Macron ally shouldn’t be gifted the prestigious role like before as all it does is reinforce France’s “democratic problem”.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen has also blasted Macron for failing to step aside and says he is going to “sacrifice the fate of France because of his vanity”.

French President Emmanuel Macron is likely to choose a successor quickly