Government collapses on vote of confidence in France
France is grappling with a political crisis as the Minority Government, led by Prime Minister François Bayrou, has suffered a defeat in a confidence vote in the National Assembly. The renewed failure of the government increases the risk of a loss of confidence on the markets, further burdening France's finances.
The vote, which saw 364 members vote against the government and only 194 expressing confidence, was a setback for President Emmanuel Macron. The presidency was not at stake in the vote, but the outcome is likely to put Macron under pressure to present a new prime minister to avoid putting himself under too much pressure.
Bayrou's government had linked the vote to a commitment to austerity, and had planned cuts of nearly 44 billion euros for the coming year. However, the proposal to abolish two public holidays was widely rejected by the population, and may have contributed to the government's downfall.
Following the lost vote of confidence in the French Parliament, Macron has appointed Sébastien Lecornu as the new Prime Minister of France. The centrist camp, however, has not yet decided on a successor.
France's economic situation is at risk of worsening due to the renewed failure of the government. The country is heavily indebted, and urgently needs to stabilize its austerity course and pass a budget for the coming year.
The political crisis in France is likely to have implications on the international stage. Berlin and Brussels should expect less initiative from Macron in the coming days as he initially focuses inward to navigate the political crisis.
Meanwhile, the right-wing nationalists are pushing for elections, either through the dissolution of the National Assembly or a resignation by Macron. A new election could pose a risk for Macron, as Le Pen's right-wing nationalists or the left-wing alliance could win the absolute majority, potentially forcing Macron to give up power.
It is important to note that Macron cannot run for a third term as President in 2027 due to term limits. Additionally, the far-right leader Le Pen's ability to run in the upcoming election is uncertain due to a pending legal case.
As France navigates this political crisis, the country and the world await the next moves from the Macron administration.
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