French Prime Minister Bayrou's Confidence Vote Faces Opposition

Sat Sep 13 2025 09:23:10 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

French opposition parties refuse to support PM François Bayrou's vote of confidence amid calls for significant budgetary cuts.

Prime Minister François Bayrou is facing a challenge after announcing a vote of confidence regarding his plans for deep budget cuts. Opposition parties, ranging from the National Rally to the left, have declared their intention to oppose him. This comes as Bayrou highlights a crucial moment for France amidst a mounting budget deficit. The political atmosphere is tense, with upcoming protests planned against the government's fiscal policies.

French PM fights for survival as rivals refuse support in vote of confidence

French opposition parties have said they will not back Prime Minister François Bayrou after he called a vote of confidence on 8 September on plans for deep budget cuts.

Bayrou, who has led a minority government since last December, called the vote on Monday, warning France was facing a worrying and therefore decisive moment. Yes, it’s risky, but it’s even riskier not to do anything,” he stated, highlighting the pressures of a rising budget deficit.

From the National Rally on the right to the Socialists, Greens, and France Unbowed on the left, opposition parties lined up to indicate they would oppose him. Bayrou announced the vote just days before planned protests across France to block everything.

The Bloquons tout movement, which started on social media and gained support from unions and far-left parties, emerged after Bayrou's announcement of nearly €44bn (£38bn) in budget cuts in July. In response to the confidence vote news, France's CAC-40 stock index fell by 1.59% on Monday with an additional decline of 2% reported on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Eric Lombard remarked that there must be a collective effort to prepare a budget for recovery by 2026. Bayrou described the past year's budget deficit, which hit 5.8% of France's GDP, as a critical challenge, urging parliament to choose a path to alleviate the burden of debt.

Political analysts indicate that without a shift in support, Bayrou’s government appears increasingly vulnerable. Each of the main opposition parties has expressed their intention to vote against Bayrou, sealing a potentially precarious fate for his administration. Observers hint that only the dissolution of parliament could restore faith in governance, as propounded by both National Rally party leaders.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin praised Bayrou's call for a vote of confidence, dubbing it a courageous act. As pressure mounts, the political landscape grows increasingly dramatic, posing significant implications for President Macron and his administration's future.