France plunged into fresh political turmoil on Monday as Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a confidence vote in the National Assembly.
This automatically ended his nine-month tenure, leaving President Emmanuel Macron scrambling to appoint a new head of government.
The motion, centered on Bayrou’s controversial €44 billion austerity package, was defeated by a wide margin of 364 votes to 194, marking the first time in the Fifth Republic that a prime minister was forced out after personally seeking a confidence mandate.
Bayrou’s plan aimed to slash France’s soaring deficit—currently at 5.4 percent of GDP—by cutting public spending, scaling back social benefits, and eliminating two public holidays.
The proposals sparked fierce resistance across the political spectrum, uniting both far-left and far-right blocs against his centrist leadership.
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His departure makes him the fourth French prime minister to exit in less than two years, following the short-lived governments of Élisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal, and Michel Barnier.
The repeated collapses underscore the deep divisions within the French legislature, where Macron’s alliance lacks a stable majority.
The fallout intensifies pressure on the president, who must swiftly nominate a successor capable of steering through a 2026 budget before year-end. With public debt at 114 percent of GDP, financial markets are watching closely for signs of stability in Europe’s second-largest economy.
Opposition leaders seized on the moment to escalate demands. Leftist leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon called for fresh parliamentary elections, while far-right figure Marine Le Pen renewed her push for Macron’s resignation.
Bayrou is expected to formally present his resignation on Tuesday, clearing the path for Macron to begin consultations on forming France’s next government.
Times of India
