French Government in Crisis as Parliament Votes on No-Confidence Motion Against PM Bayrou
PARIS – France’s political landscape is braced for turmoil as the National Assembly is set to vote on a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister François Bayrou on Monday, threatening to topple his government after just nine months in office.
The crisis was triggered unexpectedly by Bayrou himself, who staked his government’s future on a controversial austerity budget by calling a surprise vote of confidence—a procedural move known as engagement de responsabilité under Article 49.3 of the French constitution. This tactic, often used by French leaders to bypass a parliamentary vote, forces legislators to either accept the legislation or bring down the entire government.
The austerity measures, which include spending cuts and reforms aimed at reducing France’s budget deficit, have proven deeply unpopular with a public already grappling with rising living costs. The opposition has seized on this discontent, branding the budget unfair and punitive.
The Stakes of the Vote
Should the motion of no confidence pass with an absolute majority, Article 49 of the constitution is clear: Prime Minister Bayrou and his entire government will be forced to resign. This would plunge President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance into a period of profound uncertainty, leaving him with a difficult choice.
President Macron could appoint a new prime minister from the existing parliamentary makeup to try and form a new government. However, with no party holding an absolute majority, finding a stable coalition would be a significant challenge. The other, more radical option would be to dissolve the National Assembly and call for snap legislative elections, a risky gamble that could hand power to his opponents.
A Political Game of “Passing the Ball”
The move is seen by many political analysts as a high-stakes strategy orchestrated by the Élysée Palace. With public opinion firmly against President Macron’s government and his popularity at a low ebb, critics accuse him of using his prime minister as a shield.
“President Macron is playing a classic game of passing the ball to his prime minister,” said political commentator Élise Moreau. “He sets the unpopular policy direction from the Élysée, while the prime minister is left to implement it and face the public’s anger. When the political cost becomes too high, the prime minister is replaced—a tactic Macron has used before to reset the narrative without changing course himself.”
This would be the second time in President Macron’s second term that a prime minister has fallen. Bayrou was himself appointed nine months ago to reinvigorate the government’s agenda after his predecessor, Élisabeth Borne, faced similar parliamentary rebellions and low popularity.
The eyes of France and Europe are now fixed on the National Assembly. The vote will not only decide the fate of a prime minister but will also serve as a crucial test of the stability of Macron’s second term and his ability to govern effectively for its remainder.