Three major opposition parties have announced they will vote against the government in the confidence vote scheduled for September 8.
Paris – Prime Minister François Bayrou’s minority government could collapse next month. On Monday, three major opposition parties declared they would oppose the upcoming confidence vote. The position of the Socialists is particularly crucial, as their support largely determines Bayrou’s fate. Party leader Olivier Faure told Le Monde that supporting Bayrou was out of the question. He confirmed on TF1 that a yes vote was not possible. Previously, both the far-right National Rally and the Greens had already announced they would not grant Bayrou their confidence.
Bayrou had earlier tried to take the initiative, announcing that he would make a fundamental statement on France’s precarious financial situation before the debate on the 2026 budget, which includes planned cuts of €43.8 billion. Following his government statement, he intends to put the confidence question to his center-right coalition.
Call for General Strike
The left has already threatened a vote of no confidence in Bayrou and his government in response to the planned austerity measures. For weeks, there has been a call for a general strike and protests on September 10, although it is unclear who is behind the initiative.
The government lacks a parliamentary majority. Given the uncertain political landscape, a possible government collapse over the budget dispute had already been considered likely.
Le Pen Says No
In July, Bayrou survived a no-confidence vote proposed by the Socialists, as the left voted in favor but Marine Le Pen’s National Rally deputies did not. This time, the situation appears different: Le Pen has declared that her deputies will vote against Bayrou.
France’s public debt stands at 114 percent of GDP, making it one of the highest in the eurozone.
If the government falls, President Emmanuel Macron could immediately appoint a new prime minister or ask Bayrou to continue as head of a caretaker government. Alternatively, new elections could be called. At the end of 2024, Macron had already lost his previous prime minister, Michel Barnier, after just three months in office due to a no-confidence vote over the budget.
