Paris, September 8, 2025 – French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou lost a crucial confidence vote in the National Assembly on Monday, with 364 members voting against him and 194 in his favour, while 15 abstained.
Under Article 50 of the French Constitution, the failure automatically requires the prime minister to tender the resignation of the government to the president. According to reports, Bayrou is expected to submit his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.
Bayrou had called the confidence vote himself amid mounting doubts over his government’s ability to push through the 2026 budget, which includes €40 billion in spending cuts. The proposed austerity measures triggered criticism across party lines, ultimately leading to his downfall.
The result marks a major political setback for Macron’s administration, which must now navigate the challenge of forming a new government capable of securing parliamentary backing for its fiscal agenda.
