French Prime Minister Bayrou Calls for Confidence Vote Amidst Budget Crisis

Sun Sep 14 2025 01:09:00 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As Prime Minister François Bayrou navigates a potential political crisis, opposition parties have voiced their refusal to support his confidence vote that hinges on a controversial budget plan.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou faces a critical moment as he calls a confidence vote that seeks to implement deep budget cuts, amounting to nearly €44 billion. Opposition parties, including the National Rally and leftist groups, have expressed their intent to vote against him, raising concerns over the stability of his minority government. Protests against the proposed cuts are also anticipated soon, adding to the political turmoil.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou has said parliament has 13 days to choose between chaos or responsibility, after calling a vote of confidence on plans for deep budget cuts.

Bayrou, who has led a minority government since last December, said in an interview he would fight like a dog to win the 8 September vote. Yes, it's risky, but it's even riskier not to do anything, he said, in the face of France's mounting budget deficit.

Opposition parties have lined up to say they will vote against him, from the National Rally on the right to the Socialists, Greens and France Unbowed on the left.

The vote comes two days before protests are due to take place in France to block everything.

The Bloquons tout movement, which began on social media but has since been backed by the unions and far left, emerged after Bayrou announced plans in July for almost €44bn (£38bn) in budget cuts.

Reacting to news of the vote, which Bayrou seems all but certain to lose, France's CAC-40 share index fell 1.59% on Monday and then a further 1.5% on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Eric Lombard said on Tuesday that collectively we have to find a way to prepare a budget for recovery for 2026.

Last year's budget deficit hit 5.8% of France's economic output (GDP), and Bayrou argued that France was in danger, urging parliament to make a choice that allows us to escape from this curse [of indebtedness].

In further remarks at a union event, he urged the French people to influence their MPs to choose responsibility over chaos.

Facing significant opposition from parties like the far-right National Rally and leftist groups, as well as skepticism from within his own government, the political future for Bayrou looks increasingly precarious as the 8 September vote approaches.