The vote came after Bayrou tied his survival to passage of a €44 billion ($51 billion USD) cost-cutting plan that included canceling two public holidays and freezing government spending.
Bayrou will step down after just nine months in office and is expected to deliver his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, according to French media, CNN reported. His removal follows the removal of former Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who lost a no-confidence vote in December.
The vote adds to Macron’s difficult situation as he deals with a divided parliament, economic uncertainty, and the rise of political opposition on both the populist right and far left. Investors have already signaled concern, with French government bond yields rising above those of Spain, Portugal, and Greece. Credit agencies are set to review France’s debt rating later this week.
“You have the power to bring down the government, but you do not have the power to erase reality,” Bayrou told lawmakers ahead of the vote. “Reality will remain relentless: expenses will continue to rise, and the burden of debt, already unbearable, will grow heavier and more costly.”
The latest political crisis goes back to Macron’s snap election in 2024, called after the populist National Rally scored major gains in the European Parliament. That decision weakened Macron’s party and left the legislature fractured.
With Bayrou gone, Macron faces limited options. He could appoint a caretaker government or name a successor from within his cabinet. Opposition leaders have warned they would quickly force another no-confidence vote if Macron selects another centrist.
Populist leader Marine Le Pen has demanded fresh elections, which would likely strengthen her party’s position. Macron, however, has insisted he will serve out his term and has shown no intention of stepping aside.
