France has been plunged into a new political crisis with the defeat of Prime Minister François Bayrou at a confidence vote in the National Assembly.
The defeat – by 364 votes to 194 – means that Bayrou will on Tuesday present his government's resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who must now decide how to replace him. Macron's office said this would happen in the coming days.
The options include naming a new prime minister from the centre-right; pivoting to the left and finding a name compatible with the Socialist Party; and dissolving parliament so new elections are held.
Macron's bitter enemies in the far-left France Unbowed party are calling for him personally to resign, but few commentators think it likely.
France is thus on its way to getting a fifth prime minister in less than two years - a dismal record that underscores the drift and disenchantment that have marked the president's second term.
Bayrou's fall came after he staked his government on an emergency confidence debate on the question of French debt. He spent the summer warning of the existential threat to France if it did not start to tackle its €3.4 trillion (£2.9 trillion) liability. In a budget for 2026 he proposed to scrap two national holidays and freeze welfare payments and pensions, with the aim of saving €44 billion.
However, as he quickly discovered, his warnings did not sway his opponents. Lacking any majority in the National Assembly, Bayrou faced a united front from the left and hard-right against him. Some commentators have described Bayrou's decision to call the vote as an act of political suicide.
He argued passionately during the debate that failing to address the debt would plunge younger generations into financial slavery. Yet, his speech failed to resonate, as it became apparent that the focus of many voters was elsewhere, particularly issues like the cost of living, security, and immigration rather than debt control.
As the political environment remains tense, a movement called Bloquons Tout (Let's Block Everything) has announced plans for protests against Macron's policies, with unions also organizing demonstrations ahead.
Economists agree that a significant challenge lies ahead for France regarding its rising debt servicing costs. With Macron previously promising increased funds for defense and facing opposition to recent pension reforms, the next phase of governance remains uncertain. After less than a year in office, Bayrou's successor could very well set a new direction, potentially looking to the left for more alignment with public sentiment.
The defeat – by 364 votes to 194 – means that Bayrou will on Tuesday present his government's resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who must now decide how to replace him. Macron's office said this would happen in the coming days.
The options include naming a new prime minister from the centre-right; pivoting to the left and finding a name compatible with the Socialist Party; and dissolving parliament so new elections are held.
Macron's bitter enemies in the far-left France Unbowed party are calling for him personally to resign, but few commentators think it likely.
France is thus on its way to getting a fifth prime minister in less than two years - a dismal record that underscores the drift and disenchantment that have marked the president's second term.
Bayrou's fall came after he staked his government on an emergency confidence debate on the question of French debt. He spent the summer warning of the existential threat to France if it did not start to tackle its €3.4 trillion (£2.9 trillion) liability. In a budget for 2026 he proposed to scrap two national holidays and freeze welfare payments and pensions, with the aim of saving €44 billion.
However, as he quickly discovered, his warnings did not sway his opponents. Lacking any majority in the National Assembly, Bayrou faced a united front from the left and hard-right against him. Some commentators have described Bayrou's decision to call the vote as an act of political suicide.
He argued passionately during the debate that failing to address the debt would plunge younger generations into financial slavery. Yet, his speech failed to resonate, as it became apparent that the focus of many voters was elsewhere, particularly issues like the cost of living, security, and immigration rather than debt control.
As the political environment remains tense, a movement called Bloquons Tout (Let's Block Everything) has announced plans for protests against Macron's policies, with unions also organizing demonstrations ahead.
Economists agree that a significant challenge lies ahead for France regarding its rising debt servicing costs. With Macron previously promising increased funds for defense and facing opposition to recent pension reforms, the next phase of governance remains uncertain. After less than a year in office, Bayrou's successor could very well set a new direction, potentially looking to the left for more alignment with public sentiment.
