Macron Faces Political Crisis as French Parliament Ousts Prime Minister François Bayrou Over Deficit Plan
Story: written by springnewsng september 9,2025
French President Emmanuel Macron has been plunged into fresh political turmoil after parliament voted to topple Prime Minister François Bayrou and his minority government on Monday.
Lawmakers rejected Bayrou’s deficit-reduction budget, casting 364 votes against him compared with 194 in support, ending his nine-month premiership. The veteran centrist had tied his survival to a plan for €44 billion ($51.5 billion) in savings to curb France’s ballooning national debt, which now stands at 114% of GDP—almost double the EU’s 3% deficit ceiling.
“You have the power to bring down the government, but you do not have the power to erase reality,” Bayrou warned lawmakers before his defeat. He will formally resign on Tuesday.
The vote forces Macron to search for his fifth prime minister in under two years. His office said a replacement will be announced soon, but opposition leaders insist the crisis has now reached the presidency itself. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen declared the “phantom government” era over and renewed calls for snap elections, while hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon demanded Macron step down.
With no party holding a majority in the fractured National Assembly, Macron faces limited options: appointing another centrist, reaching across to conservatives, or tapping a moderate socialist or technocrat. Any choice risks deepening gridlock.
The collapse of Bayrou’s government also rattles financial markets already uneasy about France’s record-high deficit in the eurozone. Bond yields have risen, and rating agencies Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P Global are all due to review France’s sovereign credit rating in the coming weeks. A downgrade could push borrowing costs even higher.
Meanwhile, unrest is mounting on the streets. Protest groups under the banner Bloquons Tout (“Let’s Block Everything”) are preparing nationwide disruptions on Wednesday, while trade unions plan strikes next week.
The crisis leaves Macron fighting to preserve authority at home and credibility abroad, as political and economic pressures converge on France’s fragile government.
