In a vote on 8/9, the French parliament ousted Prime Minister Francois Bayrou in a confidence vote. 364 members of parliament voted no confidence, while 194 voted in favor. National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet announced that, according to Article 50 of the constitution, Bayrou was required to resign after just 9 months in office.
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French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou addresses the parliament on 8/9. Photo: AP |
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou addresses the parliament on 8/9. Photo: AP
Bayrou becomes the first prime minister in modern French history to be removed by a confidence vote rather than a no-confidence vote. He surprised allies by calling for the vote to end a protracted stalemate over proposed deep cuts to the 2026 budget. Bayrou's proposal aimed to save an estimated 52 billion USD to reduce France's debt burden.
"The greatest risk is not to vote, to let things continue as they are without any change," Bayrou told parliament, defending his decision to hold the confidence vote.
Bayrou asserted that his government had proposed a plan for France to "escape the inevitable debt wave that is engulfing the country in the next few years".
The French presidency stated that Emmanuel Macron was aware of the result and would appoint a new prime minister "in the coming days," ending speculation that the president might call for early elections. Macron will meet with Bayrou on 9/9 to accept his resignation.
Bayrou was the sixth prime minister under Macron since the 2017 election. His ouster presents Macron with a new domestic challenge as he leads diplomatic efforts regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
The French president, elected by the people every 5 years, is the head of state, responsible for foreign and defense policy. The prime minister is appointed by the president after parliamentary elections, usually from the party controlling the parliament, and is responsible for domestic policies and the daily work of the government. Cabinet members are nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president.
Ngoc Anh (According to AFP)
