French PM ousted in no-confidence vote

French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou leaves after a debate before a confidence vote on the budget issue during an extraordinary session at the National Assembly in Paris, France, September 8, 2025.— Reuters

France Plunges Into Political Turmoil as Parliament Ousts Prime Minister Over Debt Crisis

French PM ousted in no-confidence vote
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou leaves after a debate before a confidence vote on the budget issue during an extraordinary session at the National Assembly in Paris, France, September 8, 2025.— ReutersPARIS: France’s parliament on Monday voted to oust the prime minister in a...

France was thrown into fresh political turmoil on Monday after parliament voted to oust Prime Minister François Bayrou in a no-confidence move over his debt-control strategy, forcing President Emmanuel Macron to confront yet another crisis. Bayrou, 74, had only been in office for nine months and must now resign, leaving Macron with limited and complicated options to form a new government as financial markets signal concern over the country’s deepening fiscal woes.

The prime minister had unexpectedly called the vote in hopes of securing parliamentary backing for his plan to reduce France’s ballooning deficit—currently nearly twice the European Union’s 3% ceiling—and to begin tackling a national debt pile that has swelled to 114% of GDP. His proposal to cut 44 billion euros from next year’s budget failed to win support, with opposition parties unwilling to endorse tough savings measures as the 2027 presidential election approaches.

Macron now faces a difficult choice. He could nominate another centrist ally or turn to conservative ranks, but this path risks repeating the same political deadlock. Pivoting to the left by selecting a moderate socialist might ease tensions, yet it would clash with his pro-business agenda. Bringing in a technocrat is also an option, though none of these scenarios are likely to produce a parliamentary majority. Finance Minister Eric Lombard warned even before the vote that any new government would inevitably dilute Bayrou’s deficit-reduction blueprint.

The president has so far resisted pressure from far-right and far-left parties to call a snap election, but as the crisis deepens, it may become unavoidable. France’s immediate priority is passing a budget—a challenge that cost Bayrou his position. Addressing lawmakers before the vote, Bayrou insisted that the debt burden could no longer be ignored. “Reality will remain relentless: expenses will continue to rise, and the burden of debt, already unbearable, will grow heavier and more costly. France’s very survival is at stake,” he warned.

France’s fiscal struggles are drawing scrutiny across Europe. The country holds the highest deficit-to-GDP ratio in the eurozone and already pays more to service its debt than Spain, while bond spreads against Germany are at their widest in four months. Credit rating agencies are also circling: Fitch is due to review France’s AA- rating with a negative outlook on September 12, followed by Moody’s and S&P Global later in the year. Any downgrade would raise borrowing costs and further complicate efforts to stabilize public finances.

The political stalemate risks undermining Macron’s influence in Europe, particularly as the continent grapples with U.S. trade tensions and the war in Ukraine. Discussions are underway about whether to open negotiations with the Socialists, who have proposed a counter-budget that includes a wealth tax of at least 2% on fortunes above 100 million euros, alongside 22 billion euros in savings. Reconciling this with Macron’s reformist and business-friendly agenda, however, remains a steep challenge.

Meanwhile, public anger is simmering. A grassroots movement known as Bloquons Tout (“Let’s Block Everything”) has called for nationwide disruption this week, while trade unions are preparing walkouts soon after. For many ordinary citizens, the political wrangling feels detached from everyday struggles. “France is done,” sighed Mohamed, an 80-year-old retired hospital worker selling produce at a Paris market.