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French Govt collapses as prime minister Francois Bayrou ousted
French Govt collapses as prime minister Francois Bayrou ousted
The French parliament has voted to oust Prime Minister Francois Bayrou’s government, plunging the country into a new political crisis.
Bayrou lost the confidence vote by a significant margin, with 364 deputies voting against him and 194 in support.
Bayrou, who took office nine months ago, had called the confidence vote to push for his austerity budget plan, which aimed to reduce France’s debt pile.
However, the plan was met with opposition from lawmakers, leading to his ouster.
The collapse of Bayrou’s government left President Emmanuel Macron with a challenging decision to appoint a new prime minister or call for snap elections.
Macron’s office said he would appoint a new prime minister in the coming days.
Possible candidates include Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, Labour Minister Catherine Vautrin, and Finance Minister Eric Lombard.
Far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, has urged Macron to call snap legislative elections, describing Bayrou’s administration as a “phantom government”.
A recent poll shows 64 per cent of French citizens want Macron to resign rather than appoint a new prime minister, with 77 per cent disapproving of his work.
Bayrou is expected to submit his resignation on Tuesday, and Macron would face the task of finding a new prime minister who can navigate the complex political landscape.
The decision will have significant implications for France’s governance and direction.
AFP
