France's Political Crisis Deepens as Fourth PM Resigns in Two Years

French Government in Turmoil After Bayrou's Forced Resignation

France has plunged deeper into political crisis as Prime Minister François Bayrou was forced to resign following a parliamentary vote of no confidence. This marks the fourth prime minister to leave office within just two years, highlighting the severe instability gripping the French political system.

Budget Cuts Trigger Political Fallout

The immediate cause of Bayrou's downfall was his controversial austerity package announced in July 2025, which aimed to save nearly €44 billion through widespread government spending cuts. U heeft de macht om de regering omver te werpen, maar u heeft niet de macht om de waarheid uit te wissen (You have the power to overthrow the government, but you don't have the power to erase the truth), Bayrou warned parliamentarians during his final address.

France's budget deficit currently stands at over 5% of GDP—the highest in the eurozone—far exceeding the EU's 3% limit. The country's debt burden is equally alarming, with only Italy and Greece carrying higher public debt ratios among EU nations.

Political Deadlock and Constitutional Crisis

President Emmanuel Macron now faces the difficult choice of appointing a fifth prime minister in two years or calling new parliamentary elections. The political landscape has been fragmented since the 2024 European elections, which saw Marine Le Pen's far-right party emerge victorious, prompting Macron to call snap elections that ultimately resulted in a left-wing coalition government.

According to France correspondent Frank Renout, Het vormen van een regering is inmiddels uitgegroeid tot een flink hoofdpijndossier voor president Macron (Forming a government has become a major headache for President Macron). The parliament is divided into three blocs—left, center, and far-right—that rarely agree on policy matters.

Public Trust at Historic Lows

Public confidence in both Macron and Bayrou has plummeted to unprecedented levels. A recent Le Figaro poll revealed that only 15% of French citizens still trust Macron, down from 21% in July. Bayrou's approval rating fell from 16% to 14% over the same period.

The political instability comes amid growing social unrest, with protesters planning nationwide demonstrations under the slogan blokkeer alles (block everything) to oppose the austerity measures. The French economy faces significant challenges, with government interest payments having doubled over the past five years due to the mounting debt burden.