Political situation in France

Debt crisis puts pressure on fragile governance – no confidence awaits

France will hold a no confidence vote on Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government on September 8, Reuters reports.

Bayrou hopes to gain support for measures aimed at reducing a sharply rising national debt. He admits that it is a risky move because he leads a minority government and that parliament is very divided.

– But it is riskier to do nothing, says the center-right politician.

One of the prime minister’s budget proposals to reduce the national debt is to reduce the number of public holidays.

Far-right hopes for new elections: “We are ready”

Neither the French right nor the left have any plans to give the country’s minority government renewed confidence in the no confidence vote called for September 8. This is reported by Reuters.

The leader of the far-right National Rally party, Jordan Bardella, believes this means the end of Prime Minister François Bayrou's time in the role.

"We will never vote for a government whose decisions cause suffering to the French people. Our citizens are waiting for change and a return to the ballot box: we are ready," he wrote in a post on social media.

Bayrou is seeking support for measures to reduce a sharply rising national debt. One of the proposals is to reduce the number of public holidays.