French Prime Minister François Bayrou Ousted in Confidence Vote Amidst Economic Crisis

François Bayrou has been voted out of office in a confidence vote, plunging France into a political crisis. Bayrou, 74, had called the vote himself in a last-ditch attempt to get support for austerity measures to reduce France's public debt. However, only 194 deputies voted in his favor, while 364 voted against him. Bayrou's unpopular plan for a €44 billion budget squeeze and austerity program is now certain to be shelved, including his proposal to scrap two public holidays.

Key Takeaways:

• François Bayrou has been ousted as French Prime Minister after a confidence vote, with 364 deputies voting against him and only 194 voting in his favor.
• Bayrou called the vote himself in an attempt to get support for austerity measures, but his plan for a €44 billion budget squeeze and austerity program is now certain to be shelved.
• Bayrou's popularity had been dented by his stance on an abuse scandal at the Bétharram private Catholic school, where his wife taught catechism and his children attended.
• The far-right National Rally's parliamentary group leader, Marine Le Pen, has called for Macron to call a parliamentary election immediately.
• Macron, who has expressed reluctance to call another vote, is now facing the challenge of appointing his third prime minister in one year.
• Bayrou's departure is the second prime minister to fall since the snap election in June last year, with Michel Barnier being ousted after just three months in December.
• Bayrou's popularity has been at an all-time low, with a parliamentary report in July finding that he failed to act to prevent physical and sexual abuse at the Bétharram school when he served as education minister.
• The Socialist MP, Boris Vallaud, has called Macron "a defeated president" who has impoverished the poor and enriched the rich.

Statistics:

• 364 deputies voted against Bayrou in the confidence vote.
• 194 deputies voted in favor of Bayrou.
• Bayrou's unpopular plan for a €44 billion budget squeeze and austerity program is certain to be shelved.
• The public debt in France is being threatened by the "inexorable swamp of debt".
• The French public sector is expected to go on strike in the coming days.

Sources:

• The Guardian: "François Bayrou ousted as French prime minister in confidence vote"
• Reuters: "French PM faces uncertainty after confidence vote defeat"
• Le Monde: "François Bayrou, un Premier ministre trop peu aimé pour de bon"
• France 24: "French Prime Minister Bayrou ousted in confidence vote"