France Faces Fresh Political Turmoil as PM Bayrou Ousted
France has once again been thrown into political upheaval after Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a dramatic confidence vote in the National Assembly. The defeat, by a wide margin of 364 to 194, means Bayrou is now expected to present his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron. This marks the fall of yet another French government and adds to a pattern of instability that has plagued Macron’s second term.
Bayrou, who had only been in office since December, became the fourth prime minister in just two years and the sixth overall under Macron’s presidency. His downfall came after he took the bold step of calling a confidence vote on his own government, hoping to break a long-running deadlock over France’s spiraling public debt and austerity budget. He had warned repeatedly that the country’s deficit and debt levels were “life-threatening” and insisted that failing to act decisively would be the greater risk. But instead of rallying support, the move alienated even his allies and united both left-wing and far-right opponents against him.
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France’s financial position is precarious. Last year’s deficit was nearly double the European Union’s 3 percent limit, while debt has soared to 113.9 percent of GDP. Bayrou’s plan to slash nearly 44 billion euros in spending was fiercely resisted, and his government could not secure the backing needed to push it through parliament. His ousting underscores how fractured the French political landscape has become, with no party or coalition able to govern with a stable majority.
The defeat has left President Macron under intense pressure. By law, Bayrou must resign, and Macron must now appoint a new prime minister in the coming days. The president could pick from his centrist allies, such as Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu or Finance Minister Éric Lombard, but any appointment risks prolonging the same gridlock that brought down Bayrou. Rival parties are pushing for new parliamentary elections, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen and left-wing figures alike insisting the current assembly is incapable of delivering solutions.
Le Pen declared that France was witnessing “the collapse of a phantom government,” while the Socialist Party argued that Macron himself bears responsibility for the crisis. Both sides are vying to position themselves as alternatives in case new elections are called. At the same time, Macron faces the delicate task of maintaining stability while France struggles not only with mounting debt but also with social unrest and an unstable global environment.
For now, Bayrou’s resignation will open another chapter in Macron’s increasingly turbulent presidency. The deeper issue, however, remains unresolved: France must still find a way to pass a credible budget and restore public confidence. With no clear majority and a fragmented assembly, the search for solutions promises to be just as divisive as the battles that brought Bayrou down. The country is once again left waiting to see if its leaders can rise above partisan divides or whether fresh elections — and more political turmoil — lie ahead.
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