France has been plunged into a deep political crisis following the resignation of Prime Minister François Bayrou after just nine months in office. President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation on September 9, a day after the government was defeated in a parliamentary no-confidence vote. The motion was a resounding rejection of Bayrou’s leadership and his unpopular budget plan, with 364 opposition deputies voting for the government’s dismissal, well over the 280 required.
The collapse of the government leaves the country rudderless at a critical time. With the fourth government falling in just two years, France must now navigate pressing economic issues, including passing a budget and tackling one of the EU’s highest public debts and deficits, without a stable administration. The immediate task for President Macron is to appoint a new prime minister who can command a majority in a fractured parliament, a challenge that seems increasingly difficult.
This persistent instability raises serious questions about the future of France’s Fifth Republic, the political system established by Charles de Gaulle in 1958 precisely to prevent the frequent government changes that plagued its predecessor. President Macron now faces a perilous political crossroads with no easy solutions. Calling a snap election is a major gamble, as polls suggest his centrist coalition would lose even more seats to Marine Le Pen’s right-wing bloc and a unified left-wing alliance.
The alternative—appointing a politically neutral ‘technical’ prime minister—would likely create a caretaker government incapable of implementing any significant reforms, effectively making Macron a ‘lame duck’ president domestically. Analysts warn that with his domestic agenda paralyzed, Macron might be tempted to pursue more adventurous and high-stakes initiatives in foreign policy to project strength and divert attention from the turmoil at home.