French Prime Minister François Bayrou called a self-imposed vote of no confidence on Monday, a move widely seen as likely to cost him his job as he urged lawmakers to reject policies he warned would drive the wealthy and businesses out of the country.
Bayrou, 74, told parliament and reporters that taxing the rich to repair France’s public finances would risk accelerating an exodus of capital and people, drawing parallels with measures taken in Britain. He said France’s debt burden had reached a "life-threatening condition" and warned that continuing to accumulate debt risked "enslaving our youth." The government’s budget for the coming year foresees roughly 44 billion euros in savings to curb the country’s deficit, officials said.
Bayrou scheduled an address to deputies at 1300 GMT ahead of the confidence vote expected at 1700 GMT. His decision to force the vote capped months of standoff in a fragmented National Assembly where no party holds a majority. Opposition parties across the political spectrum had signaled they would vote against his minority government, making survival improbable.
The outcome would present President Emmanuel Macron with a stark choice: appoint a new prime minister to try to steer a fragile coalition, or call snap legislative elections that are likely to produce another hung parliament. Bayrou is the sixth prime minister to serve under Macron since 2017; his departure would leave Macron facing the task of naming a seventh head of government before his second and final presidential term ends in 2027.
France’s political turbulence is unfolding against a backdrop of deep public unease. Polls cited by national media show record low approval ratings for Macron, with large majorities expressing dissatisfaction with his performance and many calling for his resignation. The far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, is the largest single party in the National Assembly with 123 seats. Left-wing lawmakers have sought to coalesce around a so-called "Republican Vote" to block far-right accession to power.
Social tensions are high. A left-wing collective calling itself "Block Everything" has urged nationwide action for September 10, and unions have called a general strike and demonstrations for September 18. French police sources leaked to the media warned of potential violent actions and sabotage of strategic sectors, and authorities have raised concerns that strike plans could echo the disruptive protests that marked the Gilets Jaunes movement in recent years.
Economic indicators underscore the urgency of Bayrou’s message. Public debt stood above 113 percent of gross domestic product last year, and last year’s deficit was roughly double the European Union ceiling of 3 percent of GDP. Economists and officials have warned that prolonged political paralysis could widen bond spreads, raise borrowing costs and increase the risk of credit-rating downgrades for France.
Macron, who has been leading European diplomatic efforts on Ukraine and other international matters, appealed on Thursday for "responsibility" from French political forces to preserve stability. Behind the scenes, Macron has been exploring whether cooperation with the Socialist Party might produce a workable governing arrangement. Socialist leader Olivier Faure has publicly signalled readiness to assume the premiership and has circulated a draft budget, but sources say any arrangement would require complex negotiations and would not guarantee broader left-wing support.
Bayrou’s confidence motion was framed by his political allies as an attempt to force clarity on a contentious austerity package and to break a months-long impasse. Critics called the move politically reckless. Michel Barnier, who preceded Bayrou in the job for three months, was removed in December, underscoring the rapid turnover at the top of the French government.
With deputies preparing to debate and vote, Macron will have to act quickly to fill a government vacuum or to decide whether to seek a fresh mandate from voters. Any change at the top is likely to reverberate beyond France, where political stability is regarded as important to European fiscal and security policy amid tensions over the war in Ukraine, surging competition with China and trade frictions with the United States.