The country was plunged into political crisis amid economic uncertainty and escalating geopolitical tensions when French Prime Minister François Bayrou was forced to quit on Monday after losing a vital confidence vote in parliament.
With 194 MPs voting in favor and 364 against, Bayrou’s austerity-driven €44 billion ($51 billion) savings plan—which called for freezing state expenditure and eliminating two public holidays—was soundly defeated, considerably exceeding the 280 votes required to overthrow the government.
After Michel Barnier was overthrown by parliament in December, Bayrou’s loss makes him the second French premier to be removed by parliament in less than a year. The Élysée Palace has announced that he will formally submit his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday morning.
