French Prime Minister François Bayrou has resigned following a defeat in a parliamentary confidence vote. On Monday, 364 members of the National Assembly voted against him, while 194 supported him, and 25 abstained.
Bayrou had himself initiated the confidence vote, aiming to secure parliamentary backing for the government’s national debt control plan. Contrary to expectations, he suffered a significant defeat and was forced to step down after only nine months in office.
Prior to the vote, Bayrou had warned that escalating expenditures and rising debt posed a threat to the country’s stability. He stated, “This debt has become a threat to the very existence of France.” However, his cautionary message failed to persuade enough lawmakers.
Bayrou’s resignation plunges France into a new political crisis. President Emmanuel Macron now faces the task of appointing his fifth prime minister in less than two years, adding a new level of instability to French politics.