Overview

• François Bayrou resigned after losing a 364–194 confidence vote triggered by his push for roughly €44 billion in austerity measures.
• Élysée officials say President Emmanuel Macron will appoint a successor within days, his fifth prime minister in less than two years.
• France’s debt is about 114% of GDP and the deficit is near 6%, with a Fitch sovereign-rating review expected on Friday and bond-market pressure elevated.
• Large “Bloquons tout” protests are planned for Wednesday with an announced deployment of 80,000 police, and unions have called further strikes for September 18.
• Macron has ruled out dissolving parliament as the far-right National Rally demands new elections, while reported successor options include Sébastien Lecornu, Gérald Darmanin, Bernard Cazeneuve and Éric Lombard.