In an important political development, French Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government was defeated in a confidence vote in the National Assembly on Monday, plunging the country into a fresh political crisis.
According to official results, the confidence vote was defeated by a margin of 364 votes to 194, with 25 MPs abstaining.
The opposition parties across the board had made it clear they would vote against Bayrou’s minority government, citing widespread discontent with his austerity budget.
The confidence vote was held amid growing tensions between Bayrou’s government and the opposition parties.
The austerity budget, which aims to reduce France’s debt pile by €44 billion through cost savings, has been a major point of contention.
Bayrou is set to present his government’s resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who now faces the daunting task of selecting a new prime minister.
Macron’s options include naming a new prime minister from the centre-right, pivoting to the left and finding a candidate compatible with the Socialist Party, or dissolving parliament and holding new elections.
The defeat of Bayrou’s government has sparked concerns about the stability of the French government and the country’s ability to address its economic challenges.
“This is a significant blow to the government and highlights the need for a new approach to addressing France’s economic challenges,” said a political analyst.
This is not the first time France has faced a political crisis, with Macron having had four prime ministers in less than two years.
The country’s political instability is likely to continue, exacerbating the drift and disenchantment that have marked Macron’s second term.
Confidence vote result: 364 votes against, 194 votes in favor, 25 MPs abstained, Austerity budget: aims to reduce France’s debt pile by €44 billion through cost savings