French Prime Minister Bayrou Resigns After Losing Confidence Vote
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Prime Minister François Bayrou resigns following a parliamentary confidence vote defeat over proposed budget cuts, prompting President Macron to seek a new leader amid political instability.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou announced his resignation after losing a confidence vote in the National Assembly on Monday. The vote, which concluded with 364 against and 194 in favor, was prompted by Bayrou's proposal to implement €44 billion in budget cuts aimed at reducing France's deficit from 5.4% to 4.6% of GDP.
Bayrou, who served for nine months, will formally step down on Tuesday. President Emmanuel Macron is now tasked with appointing a new prime minister, marking the fifth such appointment in less than two years.
The proposed budget cuts, including the elimination of two public holidays, faced strong opposition from both left-wing and far-right parties. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the hard-left France Unbowed, stated, "Macron is now on the front line facing the people. He too must go." Far-right leader Marine Le Pen called for a snap election, asserting, "This moment marks the end of the agony of a phantom government."
France's public debt currently stands at 114% of GDP, raising concerns among investors and credit agencies. The next government faces the immediate challenge of passing a budget in a fragmented parliament. Failure to do so may lead to new elections, with opposition leaders already advocating for a shift in leadership or dissolution of Parliament.
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