French Prime Minister François Bayrou was ousted after losing a parliamentary confidence vote on Monday, marking the collapse of France’s government and forcing President Emmanuel Macron to search for his fourth prime minister in just 12 months[1].
Bayrou’s government fell by a decisive 364-194 vote, a result of opposition to his proposal to slash public spending as a means of repairing national debt. Bayrou had called the confidence vote himself, a move that ultimately united lawmakers from across the spectrum in opposition to his leadership[1].
This latest crisis continues a period of unprecedented political instability in France, following legislative elections in June 2024 that resulted in a hung parliament, with the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) winning a plurality of seats[2]. The ensuing political deadlock has left Macron repeatedly struggling to appoint and maintain a prime minister—after Gabriel Attal’s resignation, Michel Barnier’s minority government was also toppled by a no-confidence vote in December 2024, and now Bayrou’s government has suffered a similar fate[1].
The collapse of Bayrou’s government, which lasted just under nine months, brings renewed legislative uncertainty. Macron faces the challenge of finding a new prime minister able to command a majority in a highly fragmented parliament, amid pressing domestic challenges like budget difficulties and significant international concerns[1].
Bayrou warned lawmakers that while they wield the power to bring down governments, the realities of growing national debt and escalating spending remain unchanged[1].