France faces yet another government crisis as Prime Minister François Bayrou heads for near-certain defeat in today’s confidence vote, less than a year after his predecessor Michel Barnier was ousted.
Bayrou—the fourth head of government in three years—has failed to win a majority despite weeks of talks since entering the race on August 25. Opposition parties from left and right have pledged to topple him, with the vote due this afternoon.
President Emmanuel Macron has ruled out dissolving parliament as he did in 2024, when snap elections produced a hung chamber: the right-wing National Rally emerged as the largest party, while a fractured left-wing bloc came second.
The crisis comes as France faces debt at 113.9% of GDP, a deficit nearly twice the EU’s limit, and widening bond spreads that risk further credit downgrades.
Speculation is growing that Macron may now turn to the Socialists, but Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau vowed Sunday: “There is no way we will accept a socialist prime minister.” Green leader Marine Tondelier argued polls leave Macron little choice, warning: “He can’t go against them a third time.”
