Government of France collapses after prime minister fails confidence vote

France's government has faced a significant shake-up, with Prime Minister François Bayrou being ousted in a confidence vote on Monday. This marks the third prime minister change in 12 months and heralds renewed uncertainty and a risk of legislative deadlock for the country.

Bayrou's government has been in office for under nine months, but the root of the latest expected government collapse was President Emmanuel Macron's decision to dissolve the National Assembly in June 2024. This resulted in a splintered legislature with no dominant political bloc in power for the first time in France's modern republic.

The 577-seat National Assembly interrupted its summer recess to convene for an extraordinary session of high political drama. Left-wing and far-right legislators vowed to seize the opportunity to bring down Bayrou's government, increasing pressure on Macron.

Bayrou conceded that putting his fate on the line was risky, but he believed it was necessary to seek legislative support for remedies due to France's debt crisis. France's public debt stood at 3.346 trillion euros at the end of the first quarter of 2025, which is 114% of gross domestic product. To repair public finances, Bayrou proposed to cut 44 billion euros ($51 billion) in spending in 2026. However, these measures were not enough to win the support of the parliament.

Under the French political system, the prime minister is appointed by the president, accountable to the parliament, and is in charge of implementing domestic policy, notably economic measures. If Bayrou loses, Macron's chosen successor will operate in the same precarious environment and face the same pressing budget problems that dogged Bayrou and his predecessors.

Following Bayrou's resignation, Sébastien Lecornu has been chosen by President Macron as the new Prime Minister of France. However, no clear front-runner has emerged as a likely successor for Bayrou, and Macron faces an arduous hunt for a replacement to build consensus in the parliament's lower house.

Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far-right National Rally party, is calling for Macron to dissolve the National Assembly again, hoping that her party and its allies would win a majority in another round of an unscheduled legislative election. Le Pen believes that a big country like France cannot live with a paper government, especially in a tormented and dangerous world.

Macron himself has vowed to stay in office until the end of his term, but risks becoming a lame duck domestically if political paralysis continues. The demise of Bayrou's government increases the likelihood of legislative deadlock and renewed uncertainty, potentially impacting France's economic stability and international standing.

This development in French politics underscores the challenges faced by Macron in navigating the country's complex political landscape and addressing its pressing economic issues. As the search for a new prime minister begins, the future of France's government remains uncertain.