French prime minister toppled after vote of no confidence
François Bayrou must resign after 364 MPs went against his government in critical vote
The prime minister will announce his resignation to French President Emmanuel Macron tomorrow
LE PICTORIUM / Alamy Stock Photo
French Prime Minister François Bayrou has been ousted after losing a vote of confidence tonight (September 8).
In the critical vote, 364 MPs from across the left, centre, and right of the Assemblée nationale voted against him, with 194 MPs backing him. A further 15 MPs abstained from the vote, with a further 16 not turning up to vote.
The prime minister will resign tomorrow morning following an appointment with French President Emmanuel Macron.
The meeting was already arranged this afternoon before the vote had taken place, with the prime minister seemingly accepting his fate in advance.
Parties including the far-right Rassemblement National and far-left La France Insoumise followed through with their intentions to vote against the prime minister, which they had made public in the days leading up to the vote.
It means Emmanuel Macron must now appoint a new prime minister, to be the seventh of his tenure. Alternatively, he may call new legislative elections or even potentially resign.
This is the joint-highest number of prime ministers appointed by a single president of the Fifth Republic.
Ousting did not come as surprise
Mr Bayrou instigated the vote by declaring a politique générale (outline of his political goals) followed by a vote of confidence in him and his government, as detailed in article 49.1 of the French Constitution.
His predecessor, Michel Barnier, was ousted following an attempt to use article 49.3 to force the 2025 budget through without a vote by MPs.
The announcement followed widespread backlash of Mr Bayrou’s plans to make €44 billion of savings in the upcoming 2026 budget, including a freeze on social security spending and cutting two bank holidays from the French calendar.
Immediately after announcing the planned vote on August 25, several MPs stated they would vote against the prime minister.
Leading up to the vote, several parties confirmed that their MPs would also be voting against the prime minister, meaning his ousting was already all but confirmed.
MPs in the centrist bloc and right-wing allied party Les Républicains were the only ones to vote in favour of the prime minister.
