France’s Prime Minister François Bayrou Faces Ouster After Just Nine Months in Office
France is bracing for fresh political turmoil as Prime Minister François Bayrou is expected to be ousted on Monday after only nine months in power. The move would mark another major setback for President Emmanuel Macron, who now faces the difficult choice of either appointing yet another prime minister or calling early elections.
Bayrou shocked even his allies last week by calling a confidence vote on his controversial austerity budget, which includes nearly €44 billion ($52 billion) in spending cuts aimed at tackling France’s soaring debt. With opposition parties united against his minority government, analysts say it is almost impossible for Bayrou to win the required majority in the 577-seat National Assembly.
If confirmed, Bayrou would become the second French prime minister in a row to lose a confidence vote, following Michel Barnier’s dismissal in December after only three months in office. Bayrou is also the sixth prime minister under Macron since 2017, underlining the instability that has plagued his presidency.
Speaking in recent interviews, Bayrou admitted he does not expect to survive the vote. Instead, he urged lawmakers and citizens to recognize “the seriousness of the situation our country is in.” He is scheduled to make a final appeal to parliament at 1:00 p.m. (GMT) before the vote at 5:00 p.m.
Macron’s Dilemma Amid Poor Polls
Once the vote concludes, Macron will be forced to make one of the toughest calls of his presidency: appointing his seventh prime minister to broker a fragile compromise in parliament or risking snap elections to reshape the political landscape.
Internationally, Macron has maintained a strong profile as a key European leader in efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. At home, however, his popularity is at record lows. Recent polls show 77% of French citizens disapprove of his leadership, while 64% say they would prefer him to resign rather than appoint another prime minister. Macron has ruled out stepping down and cannot seek a third presidential term in 2027.
Despite the political deadlock, Macron has called for “responsibility” and “stability,” warning that France must remain strong amid global challenges.
Rising Social Tensions
The political uncertainty comes as France faces growing unrest at home. A left-wing activist group called “Block Everything” has announced a nationwide protest for September 10, while trade unions have planned strikes on September 18.
At the same time, Macron’s centrist bloc is exploring the possibility of working with the Socialist Party (PS), once a dominant force in French politics. Socialist leader Olivier Faure has openly expressed willingness to take the prime minister’s role, even presenting his own draft budget. However, support from other left-wing factions remains uncertain.
One Macron ally noted that cooperation with the Socialists could be “workable,” but added that the president is keeping his next steps deliberately vague.
With Bayrou on the brink of defeat, Macron now faces a critical turning point that could reshape both his presidency and France’s political future.