On Monday, France’s Parliament voted to oust Prime Minister François Bayrou, which has only led to a turbulent second presidency for Emmanual Macron since he dissolved the National Assembly and requested the snap elections, a move that left Macron without majority.
Last month, Bayrou called for a vote on his budget proposal to reduce France’s deficit, but the measure was rejected, with 364 out of 577 deputies voting against it. This marks the second government collapse in less than a year.
His predecessor, Michel Barnier was also outed with a no-confidence vote after only three months, making him the shortest serving Prime Minister.
His departure deepens political instability in France, the EU’s second-largest economy, where President Emmanuel Macron must now decide between appointing a new prime minister or calling early elections that could favor Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, which already holds 123 seats.
Bayrou’s push for austerity measures, including scrapping two public holidays to boost growth, drew criticism across the political spectrum. Analysts said his “obsession” with reducing debt alienated allies, while opposition parties accused him of failing to negotiate. According to political scientist Pierre Mathiot, Bayrou may have staged the confidence vote to control the timing of his defeat and prepare a presidential run in 2027, presenting himself as a leader who “told the truth” about France’s debt.
Meanwhile, National Rally and France Unbowed celebrated the fall of the government, with Le Pen’s party declaring: “The only way out is to break with Macronism.”
Timsit, A. (2025, September 8). France ousts another prime minister, deepening Macron’s troubles. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/09/08/france-no-confidence-vote-macron/