French PM Bayrou Faces Confidence Vote Amid Political Turmoil

Tue Sep 23 2025 10:54:26 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

French Prime Minister François Bayrou calls for a vote of confidence on budget cuts, risking his leadership as opposition parties prepare to vote against him.

Prime Minister François Bayrou has called for a vote of confidence in Parliament as he faces increased pressure over proposed deep budget cuts aimed at addressing France's growing deficit. With significant opposition from multiple parties, including the far-right National Rally and leftist groups, the outcome of this vote remains uncertain. Lawmakers will have to decide between Bayrou's proposed measures and the risk of leaving the country amidst political chaos.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou has said parliament has 13 days to choose between chaos or responsibility, after calling a vote of confidence on plans for deep budget cuts.

Bayrou, who has led a minority government since last December, said in an interview he would fight like a dog to win the 8 September vote. Yes, it's risky, but it's even riskier not to do anything, he said, in the face of France's mounting budget deficit.

Opposition parties have lined up to say they will vote against him, from the National Rally on the right to the Socialists, Greens and France Unbowed on the left.

The vote comes two days before protests are due to take place in France to block everything.

The Bloquons tout movement, which began on social media but has since been backed by the unions and far left, emerged after Bayrou announced plans in July for almost €44bn (£38bn) in budget cuts.

Reacting to news of the vote, which Bayrou seems all but certain to lose, France's CAC-40 share index fell 1.59% on Monday and then a further 1.5% on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Eric Lombard said on Tuesday that collectively we have to find a way to prepare a budget for recovery for 2026.

Last year's budget deficit hit 5.8% of France's economic output (GDP) and Bayrou said on Monday that France was in danger and that parliament would be asked to choose the path that allows us to escape from this curse [of indebtedness].

Unless Bayrou can change their minds, his chances of survival are low. The finance minister said there was room for negotiation but he was very firm on cutting the budget by €44bn.

Bayrou's budget plans also include cutting two of France's national holidays, so there may be some scope for the government to move on that.

Ministerial colleagues, who were given little notice on Monday of Bayrou's decision to call a vote of confidence on 8 September, praised his move.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin told French TV on Tuesday that the prime minister's move was extremely courageous.. and very democratic.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who leads the right-wing Republicans, posted a statement on X saying we went into government to avoid chaos and the extreme left, it would be irresponsible to plunge the country into a major economic crisis.

If the government does collapse, President Macron faces the choice of either leaving Bayrou in place as head of a caretaker government, naming another prime minister or calling new elections.

Bayrou made his announcement after visiting the president during his holiday at Fort Brégançon in the south of France, so Macron was fully briefed on the prime minister's plans.

The head of France Unbowed, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, said it was Macron rather than the prime minister who was to blame for the economic situation that France found itself in, and he said his party would propose a motion aimed at bringing the president down later next month.

Macron himself has refused to resign, and his term is due to continue until 2027, however it was his decision to call snap elections in 2024 that left France with a minority government made up of centrists and right-wing Republicans.