Paris (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – French President Emmanuel Macron is searching for his fifth prime minister in under two years, following opposition parties uniting to oust centre-right Prime Minister Francois Bayrou due to his unpopular budget-cutting plans.
On Monday, Francois Bayrou, who lost a parliamentary confidence vote, will officially submit his resignation to Macron on Tuesday. Macron’s successor will face the nearly impossible challenge of uniting parliament and securing approval for next year’s budget.
France’s parliament ousted the government on Monday due to its efforts to address the growing national debt, intensifying a political crisis that is undermining the eurozone‘s second-largest economy. Lawmakers voted to remove Prime Minister Francois Bayrou and his minority government, with 364 votes against and 194 in support.
As reported, the upcoming government’s top priority will be passing a budget, similar to the challenge Francois Bayrou encountered nine months ago. Gaining support from a highly divided parliament will be just as difficult.
Names like Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s were circulating, along with suggestions to choose someone from the centre-left or a technocrat.
How are socialists and greens pushing for power now?
There are no rules dictating whom Macron should choose or how quickly. Macron, in office since 2017, will appoint his new prime minister in the coming days, his office announced on Monday.
The Socialists believed it was their turn to govern.
“I would like the left, the greens, to take power. We need to assert control,”
Said Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure on France Inter radio.
Meanwhile, the far-right National Rally reiterated its demand for a snap parliamentary or presidential election, although Macron has so far dismissed both proposals. Last year, the president’s decision to call a snap parliamentary election led to an even more fragmented parliament.
What economic challenges is France currently facing?
France has the largest deficit as a percentage of GDP within the euro zone, which uses the EU’s single currency. It offers a higher return for servicing its debt than Spain, with spreads compared to benchmark German 10-year bonds reaching their highest point in four months. A downgrade in France’s rating could impair its capacity to attract low-interest funding from investors, possibly worsening its debt issues.
Why was the prime minister before Bayrou ousted?
The Prime Minister before François Bayrou was Michel Barnier. Barnier’s government was also brought down by a vote of no confidence in December 2024, after which Bayrou was appointed as Prime Minister. Barnier’s government was brought down primarily due to his use of a constitutional provision (Article 49.3) to force through a social security financing bill without a parliamentary vote.
