Kathmandu: France is on the brink of a major political crisis as Prime Minister François Bayrou’s minority government faces the risk of being ousted in a crucial confidence vote next month.

Bayrou Seeks Support to Tackle Debt

Prime Minister Bayrou has urged President Emmanuel Macron to convene an extraordinary parliamentary session on September 8 to rally support for his plan to cut soaring public debt. The budget proposal, presented in July 2026, aims to reduce public spending and save around 44 billion euros.

However, opposition parties across the spectrum — from the right to the far left — have announced they will not back the proposed budget cuts. Planned nationwide protests on September 10 and far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s call to dissolve parliament have further fueled political uncertainty.

Pressure Mounts on Macron

If Bayrou’s government loses the confidence vote, pressure could mount on President Emmanuel Macron to resign. Although Macron has stated he will remain in office until his term ends in 2027, losing Bayrou would force him to appoint a new prime minister, a move analysts say could significantly weaken his two-year mandate.

Political analyst Mathieu Gaillard from the Ipsos Institute described Bayrou’s decision to seek a confidence vote as “suicidal” for his political career.

Economic Impact and Talk of Parliament Dissolution

The political turmoil has already hit financial markets, with bank shares on the Paris Stock Exchange falling by more than 6%. While ministers are urging compromise with the opposition, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has stated that the possibility of dissolving parliament cannot be ruled out.

The coming weeks will be decisive in determining whether France enters a deeper political and economic crisis.