French Prime Minister François Bayrou has lost a crucial confidence vote in parliament, forcing him to step down after just nine months in power. On Monday night, 74-year-old centrist leader was defeated in the National Assembly by a wide margin of 364 to 194 votes.
The vote came after Bayrou called for approval of a major budget cut, aiming to slash $520 billion in government spending. Opposition parties, angered by the proposal, united to vote against him. As a result, Bayrou’s government collapsed, triggering his resignation.
According to the French constitution, Bayrou must formally submit his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, which he expected to do on Tuesday. The presidential office confirmed that Macron will appoint a new prime minister within days.
This marks France’s fifth prime minister in just two years, highlighting the deepening political instability. Conservative leader Michel Barnier lasted only three months before Bayrou’s appointment, and now Bayrou himself exits after nine months. Analysts note that France has not experienced such a political deadlock since 1958.
Read more: US Streets Erupt in Protests Against Trump’s Military Deployment for Crime Control
The big question now is who will replace Bayrou. Leading contenders include Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Labor Minister Catherine Vautrin, and Finance Minister Éric Lombard. However, far-right leader Marine Le Pen is calling for early elections, while left-wing parties are pushing for a shift in policy direction.
