French Government Collapses as PM Bayrou Ousted in Confidence Vote

In a historic political development, France’s Prime Minister, François Bayrou, lost a confidence vote on September 8, 2025, leading to the collapse of his nine-month-old government. The defeat leaves President Emmanuel Macron scrambling to find a new prime minister and navigate a new political crisis. The government was ousted by a significant margin in the National Assembly, with 364 deputies voting against it and only 194 in favor.

This is the first time in modern French history that a prime minister has been toppled by a confidence vote they initiated themselves. Bayrou had gambled on the high-risk vote to end a prolonged standoff over his austerity budget, which aimed to achieve almost €44 billion in cost savings to tackle the nation’s “life-threatening” debt. Despite his final plea to lawmakers, the government was defeated, and he is set to submit his resignation to Macron, becoming the sixth prime minister under the president’s tenure.

Macron’s Deepening Political Crisis

The ousting of his prime minister presents President Macron with one of the most difficult decisions of his presidency. He must now choose between appointing a seventh prime minister to build a new majority or calling a snap legislative election. This crisis unfolds at a time when Macron is at his lowest ebb, with a 77% disapproval rating according to recent polls. The public sentiment, as shown by a poll for Le Figaro newspaper, suggests 64% of the French people want him to resign rather than appoint a new government.

Meanwhile, the country is also facing rising social unrest, with planned days of action and strikes called by a left-wing collective and major trade unions. The political instability is further complicated by the fact that even if new elections were held, there’s no guarantee Macron’s centrist bloc would gain a more favorable position in parliament.

Le Pen’s Legal Battle and Political Resurgence

The political turmoil is happening as France’s far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, experiences a significant legal and political development. Le Pen was previously sentenced to four years in prison, with a five-year ban from holding public office, over a conviction for misuse of European Parliament funds. However, a Paris court has now set a date for her appeal hearing from January 13 to February 12, 2026. This timeline is well before the 2027 presidential election, potentially resurrecting her presidential ambitions should the conviction be overturned. Cheered by her party members, Le Pen has already capitalized on the political uncertainty by calling for immediate snap elections, describing Bayrou’s administration as a “phantom government.”