The French government collapsed for the fifth time in less than two years on Monday — leaving President Emmanuel Macron with the arduous task of finding yet another Prime Minister. Francois Bayrou had taken oath only nine months earlier before running quickly into deadlocks over his austerity budget plan. Lawmakers voted 364 to 194 against his government on Monday evening.
Francois Bayrou, who took office as prime minister only nine months ago, will tender his resignation on Tuesday, his office said. He had called the confidence vote to try to win parliamentary support for his strategy to lower a deficit that stands at nearly double the European Union’s 3% ceiling and to start tackling a debt pile equivalent to 114% of GDP. But opposition parties were in little mood to rally behind his planned savings of 44 billion euros ($51.51 billion) in next year’s budget, with an election for Macron’s successor looming in 2027.
This story is being updated with additional details…