Tuesday, September 9, 2025 -French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou formally submitted his resignation to President Macron on Tuesday following his government’s loss of confidence in parliament over its 2026 budget proposals.
Bayrou, who had been in office since December 2024, immediately tendered his resignation after the National Assembly voted against his government in a confidence motion, making him the fourth French premier to be ousted since early 2024.
With 194 votes in support and 364 votes against, Bayrou failed to secure a majority in the parliament, where 15 of the 589 deputies abstained.Bayrou has now become the sole prime minister under the Fifth Republic since 1958 to be deposed by a confidence vote.
In a press statement broadcast on BFM TV, Macron acknowledged Bayrou’s departure, reaffirming his intention to appoint his successor within the coming days.
The departing premier, who unveiled a 2026 budget framework in July, sought support for a plan to reduce nearly €44 billion ($51 billion) as part of efforts to decrease France’s escalating public debt, which currently stands at 113% of its gross domestic product (GDP).
France also faces one of the EU’s largest budget deficits at 5.8%.Bayrou had previously warned that the nation was “on the verge of over indebtedness” and urged lawmakers to prioritize “responsibility over chaos.”
Opposition parties across the political spectrum, including the far-left LFI, the far-right National Rally (RN), and the Socialists, had pledged to vote against the government.Budget negotiations have been a significant source of contention in French politics.
The failure to reach an agreement on the 2025 budget in 2023 resulted in the collapse of the Michel Barnier government in December, following a united front of left-wing and far-right parties in a no-confidence motion.
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