French PM Michel Barnier to resign, President Emanuel Macron remains defiant

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier submitted his resignation today (Thursday) to President Emanuel Macron, following the failure to pass an unpopular budget in the lower house, according to DW.

Barnier had been chosen as a compromise candidate by Macron following parliamentary elections which led to no clear outcome or winner, with the hope of being able to find a compromise between the factions.

However, Barnier's budget, which contained unpopular tax hikes and spending cuts led to the far right and far left to combine to defeat the measure by a majority of votes.

Despite this failure, President Macron insists he will stay on until the end of his term in 2027. He is set to give a televised address to the nation tonight.