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 present his government's resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who must now decide how to replace him. Macron's office indicated that this would happen in the coming days.
The options include appointing a new prime minister from the centre-right, pivoting to the left and finding a name compatible with the Socialist Party, or dissolving parliament for new elections. Macron’s far-left adversaries are calling for his resignation, but many do not see this as likely.
This marks France's fifth prime minister in less than two years, reflecting the political drift and disenchantment that has characterized Macron's second term.
Bayrou's downfall was catalyzed by an emergency confidence debate focusing on French debt, which he labeled an existential threat to France, proposing drastic cuts to address the nation’s hefty €3.4 trillion debt. However, opposition parties united against him, rejecting his warnings and using the vote to settle political scores.
Some analysts have characterized his call for a confidence vote as political suicide. His rhetoric about the consequences of France's debt did not resonate with Parliament or the public, with only a minority prioritizing debt control over immediate concerns like the cost of living and security.
A movement titled Bloquons Tout (Let's Block Everything) has pledged to initiate protests against Macron's policies, amid rising financial challenges facing France.
With a potential shift to a left-wing prime minister on the horizon, Macron's government faces significant pressure from opposition parties for reevaluation of economic strategies, especially given France's growing fiscal responsibilities.
