French President Emmanuel Macron will announce a new prime minister “in the coming days,” according to a report from French outlets. This comes after François Bayrou stated he would step down after losing a National Assembly confidence vote by a wide margin. This is the latest blow to a government that is having trouble getting France’s debt under control and passing a budget until 2026. This would be Macron’s fifth appointment to the job in less than two years, showing that the parliament is divided into hostile groups and that people are getting angry over austerity. Reuters and the Associated Press said that Bayrou’s government fell 364–194 because people were angry about efforts to lower the budget and changes to welfare and the public sector. Debt is close to 114% of GDP, which is almost double the EU limit.
Bayrou, a centrist who became president nine months ago when Michel Barnier stepped down after a no-confidence vote last December, was unable to get enough support for his fiscal plan. The far-right National Rally wants snap legislative elections, but Macron’s team says that a new vote would make things worse and give the extreme right more power. The Élysée said it will quickly find a new leader instead of disbanding the Assembly.
Next: Some possible names are Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu or a technocrat who can put together compromises on a case-by-case basis to get a budget passed this fall. Unions have said they will go on strike on September 18, and the government is getting ready for roadblocks as protests grow over expenditure cuts. As Macron thinks about changing his cabinet without holding new elections, the markets are waiting for changes in ratings.
This is a developing story. It will be updated as new information becomes available.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
