France will soon look for a new prime minister after lawmakers voted against Prime Minister Francois Bayrou in a confidence vote on Monday. The vote ended 364-194 against Bayrou, forcing his minority government to step down.
Bayrou, who held the post for less than nine months, will now submit his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron. A close aide confirmed that he will officially resign on Tuesday morning.
France in Political Deadlock
This development creates fresh political uncertainty in France, Europe’s second-largest economy. The country is already struggling with high debt, weak growth, and rising public pressure, and the political deadlock could stall important reforms as France also faces international challenges like the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, along with shifting U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump.
How Did France Reach This Crisis?
The roots of the crisis go back to Macron’s gamble in 2024 when he called for a snap parliamentary election. The results left France with a fragmented parliament and weakened Macron’s control. Since then, it has been difficult for the government to pass major laws.
France’s public finances also worsened. Public debt has now reached 113.9% of GDP, and last year’s budget deficit was nearly twice the European Union’s 3% limit. International lenders and the EU are pressing France to fix its budget.
Bayrou’s Budget Gamble Backfires
Francois Bayrou, a veteran centre-right politician and Macron’s fourth prime minister since his re-election, tried to tackle the crisis with a tough fiscal plan. His proposed 2026 budget aimed to save 44 billion euros ($51.5 billion).
He argued that strong action was needed to bring spending under control. But the plan faced huge opposition from rival parties, who accused him of pushing painful cuts.
Unable to see a way forward, Bayrou took a political gamble by calling a confidence vote on his fiscal strategy. The opposition saw this as “political suicide” and united to vote him out.
What Happens Next?
With Bayrou gone, President Macron will have to choose a new prime minister. This will be the fourth prime minister during his second term, underlining the instability in French politics.
However, Macron’s options are limited because of the fractured parliament. Opposition parties are unlikely to support his pick, raising fears of long-term gridlock.
France now faces the dual challenge of finding stable political leadership and fixing its financial troubles. Until then, uncertainty is likely to weigh on both the French economy and its role in European politics.
