Macron Faces Historic Bayrou Collapse After Confidence Vote
What happened in France this week is something that will go down in history. For the very first time under the Fifth Republic, a French prime minister has fallen because of a failed vote of confidence. François Bayrou, who had been appointed by Emmanuel Macron just a few months ago, asked the National Assembly to back his government’s budgetary plan. Instead, a majority of deputies rejected it. Out of the total, 364 deputies voted against him, 194 supported him, and 25 abstained. This crushing result meant his position was no longer tenable.
Bayrou announced that his resignation would be formally presented to President Emmanuel Macron the following morning. The Élysée quickly issued a statement saying the president had “taken note” of Bayrou’s fall and would name a successor “in the very next few days.” In other words, Macron is now facing the urgent task of choosing a new prime minister to try to bring back stability.
Also Read:- Rick Davies, Supertramp Founder, Passes Away at 81
- Kendrick Bourne Returns to 49ers as Chiefs Lose Xavier Worthy to Injury
The atmosphere across the country has been charged. In cities like Marseille, Bordeaux, and Nantes, people gathered spontaneously in the streets. Some organized what they called “farewell parties” for Bayrou, with music, drinks, and chants. Others used the moment to call for bigger protests scheduled for the coming days. The fall of the prime minister has been celebrated by opposition parties as a popular victory.
But for Macron, the pressure has only increased. Leaders from across the political spectrum immediately demanded action. On the left, figures such as Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Mathilde Panot went further, insisting that Macron himself should step down. Mélenchon declared that if Bayrou had fallen, then Macron was now “in the front line against the people” and should also leave. Meanwhile, the Greens, represented by Marine Tondelier and Cyrielle Chatelain, pressed Macron to name a prime minister from the left, reflecting what they argue was the true outcome of last year’s elections. Socialists also signaled they were “available” to take responsibility.
On the right, the calls were different. Marine Le Pen demanded a dissolution of the Assembly, insisting that only new elections could restore legitimacy. Gabriel Attal, a former prime minister himself, suggested that Macron should appoint not a classic head of government but a negotiator capable of forging compromises among all the parties in parliament.
Bayrou himself, in his final speech, warned against “submission to creditors” and praised the work of his team. But his words could not change the outcome. The lack of a majority, the divisions in parliament, and the public anger all converged to bring his government down.
Now, Emmanuel Macron stands at a crossroads. Within days, a successor must be chosen. Whoever steps into the role will have to face not only a fractured Assembly but also a restless public that is demanding change. This moment marks a turning point, not just for Bayrou but for Macron’s presidency and for French politics as a whole.
Read More:
0 Comments