French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou narrowly survived a no-confidence vote on Tuesday, just six months into his tenure, highlighting the fragility of his government’s position.
The motion, initiated by the Socialist Party (PS) following the breakdown of pension reform talks, garnered only 189 votes out of the 289 required to oust the government.
While the vote saw broad support from left-wing parties, it notably lacked the backing of Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN).
Bayrou’s government currently lacks a majority in the National Assembly, and the no-confidence vote underscored the loss of the Socialists’ support, which he had previously depended on to stay in power.
Publicly, the veteran centrist dismissed the motion as a “joke.” However, a minister, speaking anonymously, revealed that the 74-year-old prime minister is privately “pretty angry with the Socialist Party.” PS leader Olivier Faure had declared on Sunday, “No more leniency towards Francois Bayrou. We have been betrayed.”
Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen stated that censuring the government at this time would “not benefit the French people,” though she indicated her party would closely scrutinise Bayrou’s upcoming budget proposals.
The far right has not ruled out using its parliamentary influence to remove Bayrou, as they did with his predecessor, Michel Barnier, over the 2026 budget last autumn.
The task of assembling the 2026 budget is expected to be a significant challenge given France’s current financial difficulties, according to government spokesperson Sophie Primas in March.
President Emmanuel Macron appointed Bayrou as prime minister in December, tasking him with stabilising the country after months of political turbulence following last summer’s legislative elections.
Should Bayrou be removed by a parliamentary no-confidence vote, it would force Macron to appoint his seventh prime minister, further highlighting political instability.
