Government collapses following vote of no confidence in France
France's minority government, led by Prime Minister François Bayrou, has suffered a significant blow after failing to secure a confidence vote in the National Assembly. The vote, which saw 364 members voting against the government and 194 expressing confidence, marks a turning point in French politics.
The defeat is a setback for President Emmanuel Macron, who now faces increased pressure to present a new prime minister to ease the political crisis. Bayrou, who had linked the vote to a commitment to austerity, proposing cuts of around €44 billion for next year, must submit the resignation of the government to Macron.
The renewed failure of the government poses a risk of loss of confidence on the markets, further burdening France's finances. The political situation in France remains unstable, potentially leading to further instability and uncertainty.
In the wake of the vote, the left-wing LFI is pushing for Macron's removal and an early presidential election. The right-wing nationalists, led by Marine Le Pen, also push for elections, either through the dissolution of the National Assembly or a resignation by Macron.
However, Macron had previously stated that he did not want to dissolve the parliament again, but he had not categorically ruled it out. The political landscape in France is complex, with neither Macron's centrist camp, the left-wing alliance, nor Marine Le Pen's right-wing nationalists having their own majority in the lower house.
This leaves the door open for a potential new election, which could potentially result in the left-wing alliance or Marine Le Pen's right-wing nationalists gaining the absolute majority. In such a scenario, Macron would be required to appoint a prime minister from their ranks.
The proposal to abolish two public holidays was widely rejected by the population, adding another layer of complexity to the political landscape. Macron is under pressure to present a new prime minister to avoid being too much in the spotlight himself.
As France navigates this political crisis, Macron is expected to focus on domestic affairs in the coming days, potentially being less active on the international stage. It remains unclear who Macron's centrist allies will put forward as his successor. Many from the moderate camp fear that Le Pen, after several failed attempts, could win the election.
In a surprising development, Emmanuel Macron is expected to present Sébastien Lecornu as the new Prime Minister to ease the political crisis in France following François Bayrou's resignation. The appointment is expected to bring some stability to the government, but the future of French politics remains uncertain.
Read also:
- Lu Shiow-yen's Challenging Position as Chair of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Under Scrutiny in Donovan's Analysis
- Japanese leader stepping down from office
- Leaders Pashinyan and Aliyev convene at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation's annual gathering
- Policies proposed by Prabowo are causing a mix of optimism and unease among Indonesians
