Macron faces crisis as French Prime Minister, François Bayrou resigns after losing a confidence vote that toppled his government. President Emmanuel Macron will accept his resignation on Tuesday.
Bayrou shocked allies by calling the vote to resolve a budget standoff. His austerity plan, which sought €44 billion in savings, angered both left and right. The result was crushing: 364 deputies voted no confidence, while only 194 supported him.
The Élysée confirmed Macron will appoint a seventh prime minister “in the next days,” dismissing talk of early elections.
Potential successors include Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, Health Minister Catherine Vautrin, and Finance Minister Éric Lombard. The Socialist Party, led by Olivier Faure, has also volunteered to govern, though its survival in parliament is uncertain.
Polls show 64% of French citizens want Macron to resign, but he has ruled that out. He must balance diplomacy over Russia’s war in Ukraine with one of his toughest domestic decisions.
Meanwhile, unrest grows. Left-wing activists plan nationwide protests on Wednesday, and unions are calling strikes on September 18.
Macron faces crisis as Bayrou resigns amid mounting political tension and uncertainty over the 2027 presidential race.
Marine Le Pen, despite her conviction in an EU jobs scandal, hopes to return if her 2026 appeal overturns her five-year ban. Backed by National Rally MPs, she urged Macron to call snap elections, calling them “an obligation.”
