On Monday evening, September 8, 2025, the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly against François Bayrou’s government in a confidence motion. The Prime Minister is therefore forced to resign, opening the way—for the third time in a year—for the head of state to appoint his successor.
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François Bayrou, September 4, 2025 – Credit: Bertrand GUAY / AFP
Once again, pushed to the exit. François Bayrou and his ministers lasted only a few months. On Monday, September 8, deputies voted overwhelmingly against the government in the confidence motion: 364 votes against, only 194 in favor. The Prime Minister, who had himself called this vote, is therefore obliged to submit his resignation, along with that of his cabinet, to the President of the Republic. This second fall of a head of government before the deputies—after the motion of no confidence that toppled Michel Barnier on December 4, 2024—further highlights the political instability that has prevailed in France since Emmanuel Macron’s re-election in 2022 and the snap legislative elections called in the summer of 2024, which produced a more divided National Assembly than ever, with no clear governing majority.
One of the clearest signs of this instability is the number of prime ministers the French have seen come and go. In 2024 alone, there were four different heads of government: Elisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal, Michel Barnier, and François Bayrou. By comparison, that’s two more than during Macron’s entire first five-year term, between 2017 and 2022 (Édouard Philippe and Jean Castex).
François Bayrou, Macron’s sixth prime minister, remained in office for 269 days. This makes his tenure the fourth shortest under the Fifth Republic, behind Gabriel Attal (189 days), Bernard Cazeneuve (160 days), and Michel Barnier (90 days). This constant revolving door within the executive over the past eighteen months has had a visible consequence in both the National Assembly and the Senate: successive governments have produced fewer bills and left the legislative initiative to parliamentarians.
Why François Bayrou “falls point by point”
1. A deeply fragmented political climate
Since the snap elections of June 2024 called by Emmanuel Macron, the National Assembly has remained without a stable majority. Three major blocs (far left, center-right, far right) clash, making the formation of a lasting government practically impossible.
Even moderate conservatives and the Greens have chosen to oppose, further weakening any attempt at a coherent coalition.
2. Weak popularity from the outset
As early as December 2024, an Ifop-Fiducial poll for Sud Radio showed that 64% of French people were unhappy with his appointment as Prime Minister, already anticipating a future vote of no confidence.
3. Repeated attempts at ouster repelled, but the wear set in
Bayrou survived at least eight motions of no confidence since taking office, thanks in part to the National Rally’s strategic abstentions.
However, this constant looming threat exposed the fragility of his power and prevented him from pursuing reforms with any serenity.
4. A highly unpopular austerity plan
In September 2025, Bayrou took a risky gamble: tying the government’s survival to a drastic budget plan, including €44 billion in cuts, the elimination of public holidays, and other unpopular austerity measures.
This plan sparked fierce opposition—from the left to the far right—who swiftly condemned it.
5. The final fall: political malaise and institutional humiliation
On September 8, 2025, Bayrou lost the very confidence vote he had called: 194 votes in favor, 364 against, and 15 abstentions—a historic defeat, since this is the first time under the Fifth Republic that a prime minister has fallen through a vote of confidence.
The verdict was crushing: all opposition forces, from LFI to the RN, including the Greens and Socialists, had already made clear they would vote against Bayrou.
Questioned during the session, Bayrou attempted one last dramatic gesture, denouncing a “state of permanent instability” and refusing a dissolution—which he called “the worst solution”—while blaming the deputies rather than the French people themselves.
François Bayrou chose “to engage before the National Assembly the government’s responsibility” on his savings plan, as provided by Article 49 paragraph 1 of the Constitution.
It is the 42nd time Article 49.1 has been invoked under the Fifth Republic. Before Bayrou, never had a “49.1” led to the downfall of the executive. This likely, even inevitable, fall is therefore a first since 1958.
Its last use, in July 2020, carried no risk: Emmanuel Macron’s presidential majority and his Prime Minister, Jean Castex, then enjoyed a comfortable majority—unlike today’s situation.
December 2024: Barnier brought down
At the end of 2024, preparation of the 2025 budget severely tested Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s fragile coalition. On December 2, he invoked the government’s responsibility to pass the Social Security budget without a vote.
On December 4, a motion of no confidence filed by the left, supported by the RN, garnered 331 votes—more than the absolute majority. Michel Barnier was forced to resign.
It was the first time a government was toppled in response to the use of the controversial Article 49-3, which allows the executive to force through a bill unless a motion of no confidence is passed.
Article 49.3 has been used 86 times under the Fifth Republic, with increased frequency under Macron’s two terms (35 uses to date, according to National Assembly data analyzed by AFP).
October 1962: Pompidou toppled
In October 1962, it was Article 49.2—the so-called “spontaneous censure”—that was used to block Charles de Gaulle’s plan to elect the president of the Republic by universal suffrage.
A broad coalition of deputies—centrists, Christian democrats, socialists, radicals, and right-wing independents—filed a cleverly worded motion to unite votes.
Deputies and senators opposed losing their prerogative of electing the president in Congress and feared a concentration of power in the president’s hands.
The debate opened on October 4 in a heated atmosphere. Uncomfortable and repeatedly interrupted, Georges Pompidou defended the project. In case of opposition, “the people will decide” by referendum, he warned.
The motion was approved by 280 deputies, 39 votes more than required for a majority. For the first time under the Fifth Republic, a government was toppled. Georges Pompidou resigned, and General de Gaulle dissolved the National Assembly.
The referendum held on October 28 gave a clear victory to the proposal for direct presidential elections, and a month later, the Gaullists won the legislative elections.
Article 49.2 of the Constitution has been used 69 times under the Fifth Republic, including 14 times under Emmanuel Macron’s two terms.
Source: AFP
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Mwalimu HAKIZIMANA MauriceII Follow my WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCyM5ILdQejDYwQ2b2u II Follow my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/professormaurice/
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