France faces a new political crisis after Prime Minister Francois Bayrou was removed from office by a confidence vote in parliament, just nine months after his appointment. The National Assembly voted 364 to 194 against the government, forcing Bayrou to submit his resignation on Tuesday morning, according to sources close to him.
Bayrou had called the confidence vote to resolve a long-standing deadlock over his austerity budget plan, which aimed to save nearly €44 billion ($52 billion) to reduce national debt. Despite his efforts, the vote ended in his government’s dismissal, making him the first modern French prime minister ousted in this way.
President Emmanuel Macron now faces a critical decision: either appoint a new prime minister to form a stable government or call snap elections to try to secure a more cooperative parliament. Analysts warn there is no guarantee that new elections would strengthen his center-right bloc.
Bayrou defended his decision, emphasizing the urgency of addressing France’s “life-threatening” debt situation. “The biggest risk was not to take action and allow business as usual to continue,” he told lawmakers. His government had proposed reforms aimed at helping the country escape mounting debt in the coming years.
The ousting comes amid social and political tensions. A left-wing group called “Block Everything” has announced protests, while trade unions plan nationwide strikes starting September 18. Public opinion polls show that 64% of citizens want Macron to resign rather than appoint a new prime minister, and 77% disapprove of his performance—the lowest approval rating of his presidency.
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The 2027 presidential election is still wide open. Marine Le Pen of the National Rally (RN), previously convicted in an EU parliament fake jobs case, could reenter the race depending on her appeal scheduled from January 13 to February 12, 2026. Le Pen has called for snap legislative elections, describing Bayrou’s government as ineffective.
Macron now faces a balancing act: stabilizing domestic politics while continuing his diplomatic efforts, particularly regarding the Ukraine conflict.