PARIS (AP) — France risks losing its third prime minister in 12 months on Monday, with incumbent François Bayrou facing a parliamentary confidence vote he called but is widely expected to lose. This situation heralds more instability for the European Union’s second-largest economy.
The 74-year-old centrist prime minister, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron just under nine months ago, is gambling that the vote will unite lawmakers in the sharply divided National Assembly behind proposed public spending cuts that Bayrou argues are needed to rein in France’s spiraling state deficit and debts.
However, opposition lawmakers are vowing to use the opportunity to topple Bayrou and his minority government of centrist and right-wing ministers, which would force Macron to begin what could be another arduous hunt for a replacement.
The National Assembly of 577 lawmakers is interrupting its summer recess for an extraordinary session that Bayrou requested, starting at 3 p.m. (1300 GMT; 0900 EDT). After Bayrou delivers a speech arguing that belt-tightening is in the national interest, lawmakers will vote on his government — likely in the late afternoon or early evening.
Bayrou needs a majority of for votes to remain in power. If a majority votes against, the constitution dictates that Bayrou would have to submit his government’s resignation to Macron, setting France into renewed crisis.
The 47-year-old president is paying a steep price for his stunning decision to dissolve the National Assembly in June 2024, triggering legislative elections that he hoped would strengthen his pro-European centrist alliance in parliament’s lower house. Instead, this gamble produced a splintered legislature with no dominant political bloc in power for the first time in France’s modern republic.
Political uncertainty has severely hampered Macron’s domestic ambitions in his second and last presidential term that ends in 2027. Lacking a workable majority in parliament, he has rotated through three prime ministers in an effort to build consensus and stave off government collapse.
Bayrou, a political veteran, now faces the same wall of unfavorable parliamentary mathematics. Far-right and left-wing lawmakers opposed to him hold over 320 seats, while centrists and allied conservatives total 210, making his survival seemingly impossible.
Bayrou expressed frustration that rival parties are uniting against him despite their deep divisions. If he loses, Macron must find a successor who’ll operate under similar precarious conditions and face pressing budget problems that have plagued past administrations.
Under France's political system, the prime minister is appointed by the president and is accountable to parliament. The prime minister is responsible for domestic policy, while the president retains authority over foreign relations and military matters.
To address France's budget deficit which hit 5.8% of GDP last year, Bayrou proposed to cut 44 billion euros ($51 billion) in spending in 2026. This is particularly urgent as France's public debt stood at 3.346 trillion euros, or 114% of GDP. Bayrou's plans, which include removing two public holidays, have met with fierce criticism from his political rivals who see an opportunity to replace him now.
The 74-year-old centrist prime minister, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron just under nine months ago, is gambling that the vote will unite lawmakers in the sharply divided National Assembly behind proposed public spending cuts that Bayrou argues are needed to rein in France’s spiraling state deficit and debts.
However, opposition lawmakers are vowing to use the opportunity to topple Bayrou and his minority government of centrist and right-wing ministers, which would force Macron to begin what could be another arduous hunt for a replacement.
The National Assembly of 577 lawmakers is interrupting its summer recess for an extraordinary session that Bayrou requested, starting at 3 p.m. (1300 GMT; 0900 EDT). After Bayrou delivers a speech arguing that belt-tightening is in the national interest, lawmakers will vote on his government — likely in the late afternoon or early evening.
Bayrou needs a majority of for votes to remain in power. If a majority votes against, the constitution dictates that Bayrou would have to submit his government’s resignation to Macron, setting France into renewed crisis.
The 47-year-old president is paying a steep price for his stunning decision to dissolve the National Assembly in June 2024, triggering legislative elections that he hoped would strengthen his pro-European centrist alliance in parliament’s lower house. Instead, this gamble produced a splintered legislature with no dominant political bloc in power for the first time in France’s modern republic.
Political uncertainty has severely hampered Macron’s domestic ambitions in his second and last presidential term that ends in 2027. Lacking a workable majority in parliament, he has rotated through three prime ministers in an effort to build consensus and stave off government collapse.
Bayrou, a political veteran, now faces the same wall of unfavorable parliamentary mathematics. Far-right and left-wing lawmakers opposed to him hold over 320 seats, while centrists and allied conservatives total 210, making his survival seemingly impossible.
Bayrou expressed frustration that rival parties are uniting against him despite their deep divisions. If he loses, Macron must find a successor who’ll operate under similar precarious conditions and face pressing budget problems that have plagued past administrations.
Under France's political system, the prime minister is appointed by the president and is accountable to parliament. The prime minister is responsible for domestic policy, while the president retains authority over foreign relations and military matters.
To address France's budget deficit which hit 5.8% of GDP last year, Bayrou proposed to cut 44 billion euros ($51 billion) in spending in 2026. This is particularly urgent as France's public debt stood at 3.346 trillion euros, or 114% of GDP. Bayrou's plans, which include removing two public holidays, have met with fierce criticism from his political rivals who see an opportunity to replace him now.
