Overview

• The National Assembly rejected François Bayrou in a 364–194 confidence vote tied to the 2026 budget, and he submitted his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.
• Macron said he will nominate a successor within days, with press speculation naming Defence Minister Sébastien Lécornu among potential candidates.
• Bayrou’s defeat followed an austerity plan seeking about €44 billion in savings with public debt near 114% of GDP.
• Parliament remains split into three rival blocs with no absolute majority, leaving coalition-building rare and governing unstable.
• Unions have called protests and strikes starting Wednesday as France faces a December deadline to pass the 2026 budget.