French lawmakers toppled Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government in a decisive 364–194 no-confidence vote on Monday, plunging President Emmanuel Macron’s administration into renewed turmoil. Bayrou, 74, appointed last December, lost support after tying his survival to a controversial budget plan that sought deep spending cuts to rein in France’s soaring debt, now at €3.346 trillion (114% of GDP).
The ouster forces Macron to seek his fourth prime minister in less than a year, underscoring his weakened position since dissolving parliament in June 2024, which left France with a fragmented legislature. Opposition parties from both the left and far right united to bring down Bayrou, intensifying calls for fresh elections or even Macron’s resignation.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen demanded the dissolution of the National Assembly, while betting markets pointed to Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu as a frontrunner for the premiership. Macron, however, still holds sweeping powers over foreign and defense policy, even as his domestic agenda falters under repeated political deadlocks.
The presidency confirmed Macron will accept Bayrou’s resignation Tuesday and appoint a new prime minister “in the coming days.”
