Overview

• Prime Minister François Bayrou said he will engage the government's responsibility under Article 49.1 in an extraordinary Assembly session on 8 September, which President Emmanuel Macron agreed to convene.
• The PS announced it will vote against, joining LFI, the Ecologists, the Communists, the RN and allies of Éric Ciotti, while the macronist bloc and LR are expected to back the government and Liot and non‑inscrits remain undecided.
• In a confidence vote the government survives only if votes in favor exceed votes against, and early counts reported by outlets suggest combined opposition numbers could surpass the minority's support.
• Bayrou framed the test as a necessary clarification to confront soaring debt and to validate a 2026 package targeting about €43.8 billion in savings, including a fiscal "année blanche," freezes on pensions and benefits, and scrapping two public holidays.
• The 8 September date comes two days before a planned nationwide "Bloquons tout" protest on 10 September, with Bayrou set to press his case this week at events hosted by the CFDT and Medef.