PARIS – François Bayrou’s government collapsed on Monday night as deputies rejected his confidence motion by 364 votes to 194, reports 24brussels.
The outcome extends France’s political turmoil, marking Bayrou as the fourth prime minister to fall in just over a year, following his predecessor Michel Barnier, who was also ousted over budgetary concerns.
In a desperate attempt to rally support before the vote, Bayrou cautioned that “submission to debt is like submission by arms,” highlighting that France’s national debt had escalated to €3.415 trillion. He reminded lawmakers that while they held the “power to topple the government,” they did not have the power “to erase reality.”
Meanwhile, Socialist group chairman Boris Vallaud delivered a critical address, denouncing Bayrou’s “false promises and betrayals” and asserting, “it is now for the left to govern.” Far-right leader Marine Le Pen intensified the pressure on President Emmanuel Macron, demanding that he “step aside before the people” and declaring that dissolving the Assembly is “not an option but an obligation.”
Facing a dire fiscal landscape, Bayrou had called for the vote in August and increased his media engagements to persuade the French public of the merits of his €44 billion austerity policy. However, by Monday, he appeared resigned to his fate, closing his speech with a muted “appeal for compromise.” He is expected to submit his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.
Nine months in power
Bayrou, who took office in January, became the prime minister following Barnier’s ousting in December 2024. He had expressed aspirations to “achieve great things” in the lead-up to the 2027 presidential election and managed to negotiate a fragile “no-confidence pact” with the Socialist Party. However, he struggled to address the backlash against the unpopular pension reform of 2023, which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64, alienating even moderate leftist adversaries.
The far-right National Rally initially adopted a strategy of restraint, refraining from moves to destabilize the government in the spring. However, Marine Le Pen’s recent legal issues in the European Parliament led her to change tactics and push for political action as her presidential aspirations teeter on the brink.
Ultimately, Bayrou’s tenure has lasted a mere nine months, despite his reputation as a seasoned negotiator. President Macron took nearly two months to appoint Barnier after the snap parliamentary elections in summer 2024, and only ten days to name Bayrou as his successor. It is likely that this time, Macron will act more decisively, particularly with mobilizations and strikes anticipated to commence from September 10.
“Farewell parties” to mark Bayrou’s fall are already being organized across various town halls in France. Moving beyond the immediate budget for 2026, numerous challenges await, including finalizing agreements with Mercosur nations and finding resolutions concerning the French overseas territory of New Caledonia.
At the end of August, Macron had assured that the “economic agenda” crafted with Chancellor Friedrich Merz would proceed through completion, even in the event of a governmental collapse. For now, his priority will be to appoint a new prime minister capable of averting further political fallout.
