Call for elections, impeachment and a ‘negotiator’: Political reaction after fall of French prime minister

Political reactions from across the spectrum quickly followed the announcement that French Prime Minister François Bayrou had been toppled in a vote of no confidence.

The prime minister will announce his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron tomorrow (September 9) after losing a vote of confidence in his government and himself. 

364 MPs voted against the government, with 194 MPs backing Mr Bayrou.

Before the results of the votes were announced, Mr Bayrou said he had spent “nine months of profound happiness because we managed to form a team in which there were many heavyweights, a lot of solidarity, a lot of friendship, and which didn't have a single bit of tension, and that is not so easy.” 

Left call it a ‘victory for the people’

One of the quickest to react to the news was La France Insoumise (far-left) party stalwart Jean-Luc Mélenchon. 

“Bayrou has fallen. Victory and relief for the people. Macron is now on the front line facing the people. He too must go,” he posted on social media site X immediately after the result. 

Leader of LFI in the Assemblée nationale Mathilde Panot said “Mr Bayrou was looking for a moment of truth. I believe that it is here.” 

The party will begin drawing up plans to move forward an impeachment against the president “from tomorrow,” she added. 

“The fall of François Bayrou and his austerity-loving friends is a breath of fresh air for the French people,” said leader of the Communist Party Fabien Roussel. 

“It is a victory for all those who refuse to see public services and public holidays undermined.

“Now let's build the future. Let's mobilise on 10 and 18 September,” he added, referencing major strikes and protests planned for Wednesday and the following Thursday.

The Socialists likewise saluted the end of Mr Bayrou's tenure, but have not said whether they would immediately join a vote of no confidence against a new Macronist prime minister. 

It is believed Mr Macron is looking at working with the Socialists to bring them into a makeshift alliance with the centrist fold, however the left-wing group would require a total overhaul of several policies including the planned 2026 budget and a repeal of Mr Macron's pension reform. 

However, head of the Socialists Olivier Faure said this morning that he had yet to be contacted by the president or his team regarding a left-wing appointment.

Far-right call for new elections ‘to let the people decide’

“The Bayrou government chapter is now closed. Change is no longer on hold: let us discuss the future of the country,” said leader of the far-right Rassemblement National Jordan Bardella.

Prior to the vote, the RN’s Marine Le Pen saluted “the end of agony of this phantom government” and reiterated calls for new legislative elections. 

She said it is an “obligation” for the president to announce new elections.

An official social media account attached to the party posted this on X soon after the announcement. 

In an interview this morning with French media RTL, Mr Bardella confirmed the far-right would table a vote of no confidence against any prime minister nominated by Mr Macron unless elections were held or the president resigned.

Former prime minister calls for a new ‘negotiator’ position

In the build-up to the vote, various centrist MPs and allies in the right-wing Les Républicains party offered praise to Mr Bayrou.

However, some were more critical, including former prime minister Gabriel Attal, who said during a round of speeches before the vote that “nobody was for (Mr Bayrou's)  budget”.

Mr Attal has taken a novel approach, arguing that Mr Macron should not appoint a new prime minister but instead a ‘negotiator’ in the coming days. 

“I propose that the President appoint a negotiator, making it clear from the outset that this person will not be prime minister.

“This negotiator would be responsible for bringing together the political forces represented in the National Assembly to build an agreement in the general interest,” he added.

For his part Bruno Retailleau, head of the right-wing Lés Republicains and Interior Minister, said he believes a prime ministerial appointment needs to be made as soon as possible in light of the potential unrest regarding the bloquons tout movement on September 10.