French lawmakers on Monday, September 8, voted out Prime Minister François Bayrou in a decisive confidence motion of 364 to 194, throwing the country’s politics into renewed turmoil. The move forces President Emmanuel Macron to appoint yet another head of government, his fourth within a year, as France grapples with mounting debt and political instability.
Bayrou’s government, in office since December, collapsed after it failed to win support for sweeping spending reductions designed to curb the nation’s soaring debt. He had put forward a plan to cut €44 billion, or about 51 billion dollars, from the 2026 budget. France’s deficit last year stood at 5.8 percent of GDP, far above the European Union limit of 3 percent.
In his final address to parliament, Bayrou defended his push for austerity. He argued that ignoring the debt would be more dangerous than acting firmly, warning that reliance on creditors threatens national sovereignty. However, instead of backing his reforms, opposition lawmakers from both the left and far right united to remove him, exposing the fragility of Macron’s centrist coalition in a fragmented legislature.
Although Macron continues to control foreign affairs and defense, his domestic authority has been weakened. The decision to dissolve the National Assembly in mid-2024 has left his camp without a workable majority, making it increasingly difficult to push through reforms.
Bayrou’s removal follows the short-lived terms of Gabriel Attal and Michel Barnier, highlighting the difficulty Macron has faced in keeping parliamentary confidence. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen called for fresh legislative elections, declaring that France cannot function with a weak government at a time of global uncertainty.
At the end of the first quarter of 2025, France’s debt reached €3.346 trillion, equal to 114 percent of GDP. Servicing that debt already consumes about 7 percent of state spending. Whoever Macron appoints next will inherit not only the fiscal challenge but also pressing foreign policy issues, including the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and changing United States strategy under President Donald Trump.
In his parting remarks, Bayrou warned lawmakers that removing him would not erase the fiscal reality. He cautioned that rising expenses and a growing debt burden would continue to weigh heavily on France, regardless of who holds office.