France’s Prime Minister François Bayrou has lost a confidence vote in Parliament, just hours after warning lawmakers that the country’s massive debt was “life-threatening.” His defeat deepens France’s political crisis and forces President Emmanuel Macron to find a new leader—his fifth prime minister in less than two years.
Bayrou, who has been in office for nine months, will officially resign on Tuesday. The vote came after his plan to cut about €44 billion ($52 billion) from the budget was rejected. The proposal aimed to lower France’s deficit, which is nearly twice the European Union’s limit, and reduce the country’s debt, which now equals 114 percent of its economy.
Parliament voted 364 to 194 against Bayrou’s government. Both far-left and far-right parties opposed his budget, saying it unfairly targeted poor citizens. Even some conservatives who normally supported him turned away, delivering what reporters described as a “crushing defeat.”
Bayrou, 74, is the sixth prime minister to serve under Macron since 2017. His removal creates new problems for the president, who is also leading international efforts on the war in Ukraine. Macron lost another prime minister, Michel Barnier, less than a year ago after just three months in office.
Reactions were swift. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed, said Macron himself should resign. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen called for a snap election, declaring: “This marks the end of a phantom government.”
Experts warn that Macron now has few good options. He may try to appoint another centre-right leader or reach out to the socialists, but either path will require compromises on the budget. Meanwhile, France is bracing for strikes and protests from trade unions in the coming weeks.
Financial markets are watching closely, worried about whether France can quickly pass a budget and avoid deeper political paralysis. For now, Macron must find a new prime minister able to unite a divided Parliament and calm a restless public.
