French Government collapses as Prime Minister Bayrou loses confidence vote
The French government has collapsed after Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly.
The 74-year-old leader, who took office in December 2024, failed to win the backing of lawmakers.
The result came amid a dispute over the national budget, with 194 MPs voting in favour of Mr Bayrou's cabinet and 364 voting against. Mr Bayrou had hoped to use the vote to gain support for his proposed 2026 austerity plan, which aims to cut spending by nearly €44bn.
"You have the power to topple the government, but not to erase reality," the outgoing prime minister told opposition MPs in the National Assembly ahead of the vote.
Public debt has grown steadily because of chronic budget deficits, reaching €3.3tn in the first three months of the year. This has left the debt at 114% of the country's annual economic output—the third highest in the eurozone after Greece and Italy. The figure is nearly double the 60% limit allowed by the European Union.
President Emmanuel Macron must now find a new head of government, the fifth in the last two years.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
