France has been plunged into a new political crisis with the defeat of Prime Minister François Bayrou at a confidence vote in the National Assembly. The defeat – by 364 votes to 194 – means that Bayrou will on Tuesday present his government's resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who must now decide how to replace him. Macron's office said this would happen in the coming days.
The options include naming a new prime minister from the centre-right; pivoting to the left and finding a name compatible with the Socialist Party; and dissolving parliament so new elections are held. Macron's bitter enemies in the far-left France Unbowed party are calling for him personally to resign, but few commentators think it likely.
France is thus on its way to getting a fifth prime minister in less than two years - a dismal record that underscores the drift and disenchantment that have marked the president's second term.
Bayrou's fall came after he staked his government on an emergency confidence debate on the question of French debt. He staked his government's future on drastic budget proposals aimed at addressing France's €3.4 trillion liability, including cuts to national holidays, and welfare payments. However, the opposition utilized the vote as an opportunity to settle scores with both Bayrou and Macron, leading to his downfall.
Political analysts have described Bayrou's confidence vote as a political miscalculation, with predictions pointing towards Macron likely selecting a new figure from within his camp after failing to garner support from either ends of the political spectrum.
As the political landscape shifts, France's growing debt crisis looms large, with economic analysts warning of significant financial challenges ahead.
