Gavin Mortimer Gavin Mortimer

Macron’s France is no longer fit for purpose

French President Emmanuel Macron (photo: Getty)

Emmanuel Macron will address the French people this evening, 24 hours after parliament passed a vote of no confidence in the president’s government. Millions of French will likely tune in and the majority – 63 per cent, according to one poll – would love it to be a resignation speech.

No chance, according to the man himself. Earlier this week Macron said he would remain in the Elysee Palace ‘until the very last second of my term to serve the country.’

The fact is that France is in unchartered waters and no one knows what will happen in the coming weeks and months

Thursday’s newspapers in France pore over the vote of no confidence and its ramifications, although as Le Figaro admits the country is ‘in the great unknown’.

Le Monde has sought the advice of legal and constitutional experts in an attempt to map a way forward. Comparisons are drawn with 1962, the only other time a government of the Fifth Republic lost a vote of no confidence.

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