Government of Bayrou collapses due to loss of faith from deputies, leading to France's immersion into a fresh political turmoil

François Bayrou, the Prime Minister of France, has lost a vote of confidence in Parliament and will step down from his post. The vote took place on Monday, resulting in 194 votes in favor and 364 against.

The veteran centrist Bayrou has been in power for nine months, but his tenure was shorter than his predecessor, Michel Barnier, who was in power for just three months. Bayrou presented a 44 billion euro fiscal adjustment plan that included cuts in social spending, which he defended as the only way to "put the country back on track." However, the plan was met with opposition from various groups, including France Insoumise and the National Rally, who are calling for President Emmanuel Macron's resignation.

A recent poll showed that 64% of the French public want Macron to leave office. The National Assembly is fragmented with three distinct blocks, making governance difficult. Bayrou sought the vote of confidence to achieve "clarity and democratic stability."

Following Bayrou's departure, Macron is considering Sébastien Lecornu, the Defense Minister, as his new Prime Minister. Lecornu was officially appointed by Macron as the next Prime Minister following the ousting of Bayrou. This will mark the fourth head of government since 2022 for France, with two other Prime Ministers appointed by Macron, Élisabeth Borne and Gabriel Attal, already falling during his second term.

In an effort to address the political crisis, Gabriel Attal has proposed that Macron appoint a negotiator "in charge of bringing together political forces" to "build a general interest agreement." Macron may also call for elections, but the Élysée has announced plans to appoint a new Prime Minister in the coming days.

Bayrou warned of a "silent hemorrhage" of debt and defended his plan of cuts as the only way to address the "risk of over-indebtedness." France's debt is currently around 114% of its GDP, according to Bayrou. The fiscal adjustment plan aimed to address this issue and stabilize the country's financial situation.

As France enters a new political crisis, it remains to be seen how the appointment of a new Prime Minister will impact the country's future. Bayrou's resignation and that of his cabinet will be presented to Macron on Tuesday.

Government of Bayrou collapses due to loss of faith from deputies, leading to France's immersion into a fresh political turmoil