France government collapsing? What to know as parliament votes out Prime Minister Bayrou
France in Turmoil: Lawmakers Oust Bayrou, Macron Hunts for 4th PM. Photo credit: Christophe Ena/AP
France is once again in political disarray after lawmakers overwhelmingly removed Prime Minister François Bayrou in a no-confidence vote on Monday, forcing President Emmanuel Macron to seek his fourth head of government in just 12 months.
The 74-year-old centrist lost the backing of the National Assembly in a 364-194 vote, after his attempt to rally support for sweeping spending cuts backfired. Bayrou, appointed by Macron in December 2024, staked his survival on persuading legislators to accept tough measures aimed at curbing France’s soaring debt. Instead, both the left and far right united to topple him, leaving Macron’s already fragile administration further weakened.
The ouster automatically triggers the resignation of Bayrou’s nine-month-old government, opening the door to renewed political instability and the risk of a deeper deadlock in parliament. Macron’s team has indicated he will accept the resignation on Tuesday and unveil a new prime minister “in the coming days.”
Bayrou’s downfall is the third in less than a year, following the earlier exits of Gabriel Attal and Michel Barnier. The succession of short-lived governments highlights the difficulties Macron faces in steering a fragmented legislature since his decision to dissolve the National Assembly in June 2024 — a gamble that fractured the political landscape and left his centrist alliance without a clear majority.
The confidence vote played out against a backdrop of worsening fiscal challenges. France’s public debt has swelled to €3.346 trillion, about 114% of GDP, and debt servicing already consumes nearly 7% of state spending. Bayrou argued drastic cuts were unavoidable, warning that the country was “submitting to creditors” in much the same way as to military occupation.
His appeal fell flat. Opposition parties seized the chance to pressure Macron, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen calling for another dissolution of parliament and fresh elections. She insisted France “cannot live with a paper government” at a time of global uncertainty and security threats.
While Macron retains control over foreign policy and defense, his domestic authority is increasingly constrained by a legislature capable of derailing his economic agenda. Analysts warn the president risks drifting toward lame-duck status before his mandate ends in 2027 if the political stalemate persists.
For now, the focus shifts to who Macron will tap as Bayrou’s successor — a figure expected to face the same daunting arithmetic in parliament and the same budgetary storm clouds hovering over Europe’s second-largest economy.