French Prime Minister Resigns after Confidence Vote Defeat

The French National Assembly passed a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government on September 8^th, forcing the cabinet to resign just nine months after its inauguration. In the vote, 194 supported the government while 364 opposed it, far surpassing the 288 votes required to pass the motion. This marks the first time a government has been defeated in a National Assembly confidence vote in the history of the Fifth French Republic. By introducing an austerity budget, Bayrou’s government sought to tackle France’s €3.3 trillion national debt — a debt driven by the massive coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and energy crisis spending, along with President Emmanuel Macron’s tax cuts — but faced fierce resistance from public opinion and opposition parties. The proposal included €44 billion in spending cuts, the abolition of two French public holidays, and a freeze on government spending, excluding national defense. Bayrou personally requested a confidence vote in an attempt to secure political momentum but failed to do so. The Élysée Palace announced that President Macron had accepted the government’s resignation and would soon appoint a new prime minister. Bayrou’s resignation before completing a year in office, following the collapse of the Michel Barnier government three months prior, is expected to further weaken Macron’s political standing. The opposition has even threatened to pursue impeachment, heightening political pressure and raising concerns that both French politics and the nation’s international credibility could face greater instability.