French President Emmanuel Macron is searching for his fifth prime minister in under two years after opposition parties united to topple centre-right Prime Minister François Bayrou in a no-confidence vote over unpopular austerity plans.
Bayrou suffered a heavy 364–194 defeat in parliament on Monday and is set to formally resign on Tuesday. His ousting leaves Macron scrambling to appoint a successor capable of navigating an increasingly fractured National Assembly and pushing through next year’s budget.
Among potential candidates are Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu, figures from the centre-left, or even a technocratic pick. Macron’s office said the 47-year-old president will name a replacement “in the coming days,” though no rules dictate how quickly the choice must be made.
The Socialist Party has staked its claim for power, with party chief Olivier Faure telling France Inter radio: “I would like it to be the left, the greens. We need to claim power.”
The far-right National Rally renewed calls for snap elections, but Macron has so far ruled out both parliamentary and presidential polls, wary of further fragmentation after last year’s surprise early election deepened political deadlock.
Markets showed little immediate reaction on Tuesday, with Bayrou’s ouster largely priced in, but attention now turns to credit rating agency Fitch, which will issue its verdict on France’s sovereign debt on Friday.
Meanwhile, public discontent is rising. Protesters staged mock “farewell drinks” for Bayrou outside city halls late Monday, warning that Macron could be the next target. A wave of demonstrations under the banner “Let’s Block Everything” is set for Wednesday, with labour unions already preparing a nationwide strike day on September 18.
“The change of the prime minister is a done deal, but they need to get rid of what’s higher up, that’s a message for Macron,” said Alain Petit, a 61-year-old demonstrator in Clermont-Ferrand.
The political upheaval marks a fresh test for Macron, in office since 2017, as he struggles to maintain authority while juggling street anger, economic pressures, and a deeply divided parliament.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
