Political Turmoil in France: Bayrou Faces Uncertain Future as Premier

François Bayrou's minority government struggles to secure stability in a fragmented parliament, with key challenges like pension reform and budget approval looming.

François Bayrou, France's new Prime Minister, leads a minority government after his predecessor was ousted in December following a failed budget vote.
Bayrou has proposed reopening discussions on the controversial pension reform, which raises the retirement age from 62 to 64, to win support from the Socialist Party (PS).
The Socialist Party demands concrete commitments, including presenting any new pension proposals to parliament and reversing planned education budget cuts, in exchange for potential cooperation.
Opposition parties, including the far-left La France Insoumise (LFI) and the far-right Rassemblement National (RN), remain critical, with another no-confidence vote scheduled for Thursday.
Bayrou's strategy includes convening a closed-door 'conclave' of unions and employers to draft pension reform alternatives, aiming to buy time and reduce political tensions.