Macron faces turmoil as Bayrou ousted and France edges toward political crisis

President Emmanuel Macron’s government has been plunged into crisis after the ousting of his prime minister François Bayrou. The 74 year old Bayrou was ejected from office following a humiliating defeat in a parliamentary confidence vote over his austerity budget. He becomes the first French premier since 1958 to call a confidence vote in himself and subsequently be defeated. Only 194 MPs backed Bayrou, with 364 voting against, as popular anger over €43.8 billion in spending cuts and tax rises boiled over.

Bayrou’s departure has left France facing acute political instability, with the threat of nationwide protests and a general strike compounding economic woes. The French president’s contenders both on the left and right immediately seized on his loss, with Marine Le Pen of the National Rally and Jean-Luc Mélenchon of France Unbowed calling for new parliamentary and presidential elections. Their swift condemnation underscores just how severely Macron’s authority has been damaged.

Public discontent has been gathering for months in response to Bayrou’s contentious budget proposals, which aimed to tackle France’s mounting €3.3 trillion debt by imposing significant cuts and abolishing two bank holidays. Business leaders warn the unrest and continued political infighting have further undermined investor confidence in an economy already weighed down by a deficit of 5.8 per cent of national output. There is also apprehension that the country’s credit rating could be downgraded imminently.

Calls to rally behind the “Let’s Block Everything” movement have intensified across social media as unions plan to bring France to a halt by targeting roads, public services, fuel depots and educational institutions. Police expect more than one hundred thousand people could turn out midweek as national frustration manifests in industrial action and street demonstrations.

Within Macron’s centrist camp, speculation is mounting as to who might be appointed to lead the government next. Names being floated include Health Minister Catherine Vautrin, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin and Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu. There is mounting pressure for the President to build new alliances, potentially with the centre right or even the Socialists, whose first secretary Olivier Faure is openly campaigning for the post despite past acrimony with Macron.

Opinion polls now place the National Rally at 33 per cent should fresh parliamentary elections be called, followed by a left wing coalition on 19 per cent and the centrists trailing on 15 per cent. Without a parliamentary majority, any future government will face the same obstacles that led to Bayrou’s ousting, as deep public mistrust and intransigent MPs thwart deficit reduction measures. France thus teeters on the brink of further volatility, with President Macron under unprecedented pressure to restore calm and avoid spiralling into financial and social disarray.