French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to accept the resignation of Prime Minister François Bayrou on Tuesday, following the latter’s defeat in a parliamentary confidence vote over his contentious austerity budget. The setback marks the sixth time Macron has had to replace his head of government since taking office in 2017.
Bayrou, a veteran centrist politician and longtime Macron ally, had staked his government’s survival on the passage of a budget aimed at slashing France’s soaring public debt.
The plan, which included almost €44 billion in cost savings, faced fierce resistance across party lines. On Monday, lawmakers rejected the proposal by a decisive 364 votes to 194, sealing Bayrou’s fate.
In the immediate aftermath of the defeat, Bayrou announced that he would tender his resignation to the president. “The National Assembly has made its decision clear, and I take responsibility,” he told reporters late Monday night. His departure adds to the growing sense of political instability that has plagued Macron’s second term.
While some observers speculated that Macron might dissolve parliament and call a snap election, the president swiftly dismissed the idea. Instead, he issued a statement saying he had “taken note” of the outcome and would move quickly to appoint a new prime minister within days.
The announcement has set off a flurry of speculation in Paris over who might replace Bayrou. According to sources close to the Élysée Palace, Macron is leaning toward a trusted figure from within his cabinet.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin and Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu are widely regarded as frontrunners, given their close ties to the president and experience handling sensitive portfolios.
Another potential contender is Health Minister Catherine Vautrin, whose name has also been circulating in political circles. However, analysts suggest Macron is unlikely to stray too far from his inner circle as he seeks stability amid ongoing political turbulence. “In the end he will stay within his comfort zone,” one former minister told AFP.
The succession drama underscores a broader challenge facing Macron: his difficulty in maintaining consistent leadership at the highest levels of government.
Since 2017, he has cycled through Édouard Philippe, Jean Castex, Élisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal, Michel Barnier, and now François Bayrou as prime ministers. Each change has reflected the president’s struggle to balance competing factions in parliament while pushing through ambitious reforms.
Bayrou’s downfall is particularly significant given his long-standing partnership with Macron. As leader of the centrist Democratic Movement (MoDem), he played a crucial role in supporting Macron’s rise to power.
Yet his attempt to push through sweeping budget cuts collided with political realities, leaving him isolated in parliament. For Macron, the immediate challenge will be to appoint a successor who can both restore confidence and navigate a fragmented legislature.
With France facing sluggish economic growth, mounting debt, and a restless electorate, the choice of the next prime minister could prove pivotal for the remainder of his presidency. As the political drama unfolds, all eyes remain on the Élysée, where a new appointment is expected imminently.
