Three months later, following its usage of article 49.3 of the French constitution in order to push a social service financing bill without a parliamentary vote, the government was toppled by a motion of no confidence voted by the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) and far-right National Rally (RN); it was the first government to suffer such a fate since 1962 and became the shortest-tenured in the history of the Fifth Republic.
[12] At the same time, it was engaged in trying to handle the 2024 New Caledonia unrest, following Renaissance's attempt to implement a controversial reform of voting rights on the island in May 2024.
[14][16] On 26 August, after meeting the leaders of the National Rally (RN), Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella,[17] Macron announced that, contrary to the usual practice of cohabitation in France,[18][19] he would not appoint Lucie Castets, the candidate nominated by the NFP to become prime minister.
[20] This decision exacerbated the crisis,[21] and France Unbowed (LFI), the main party within the NFP, announced its intention to initiate impeachment proceedings against him.
[22][23][24] While Macron would have liked to see a centrist coalition form and called for another round of consultations, the Greens and a faction of the Socialist Party (PS), both minority members of the NFP, announced their refusal to participate in further discussions.
[2] The National Rally (RN), meanwhile, maintained a low-key attitude, aiming to capitalize on the disputes between Macron and the leftist parties that won the elections.
[30] Meanwhile, the General Confederation of Labour (CGT), France's largest trade union, condemned what it called a "power grab" by Macron and called for a day of strikes and protests on 1 October against the budget announced by the caretaker government,[33] while refusing to say to participate in the 7 September planned protests, announcing that they preferred to focus on social and economic issues instead of political ones.
[37] On 31 August, France Unbowed (LFI) officially launched the proceedings to impeach Emmanuel Macron, using article 68 of the French constitution,[38][39][40] that states that the president "can only be removed from office in the event of a breach of duties that is clearly incompatible with the exercise of their mandate.