France’s political crisis deepens as PM Bayrou faces ousting in confidence vote
The expected ousting of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, the second in succession, heralds more instability for France
France’s parliament is expected to oust Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Monday after just nine months in office, plunging the key EU member into new political uncertainty and creating a painful dilemma for President Emmanuel Macron.
Bayrou blindsided even his allies by calling a confidence vote to end a months-long standoff over his austerity budget, which foresees almost €44 billion (US$52 billion) of cost savings to reduce France’s debt pile.
Opposition parties across the board have made it clear they will vote against his minority government, making it highly improbable he will get enough backing to survive - he needs a majority of the 577 MPs in the National Assembly.
Bayrou will become the second French prime minister in succession to have suffered such a fate after Michel Barnier was ejected in December after only three months in office.
Bayrou, the sixth prime minister under Macron since 2017, has given no indication in days of TV interviews that he expects to survive the vote.
Instead, he has asked: “Has our country understood the seriousness of the situation it finds itself in?”