Closing summary
… and on that note, it’s a wrap!
French prime minister François Bayrou has been ousted in a confidence vote after only nine months in office (19:00), collapsing his minority government and plunging France into a political crisis (19:03, 19:12)
Bayrou will hand his resignation to Emmanuel Macron, his longterm centrist ally, on Tuesday morning (19:10), with the president expected to name his successor “in the coming days” (19:38, 19:51).
The decision comes after a turbulent parliament sitting, with opposition lawmakers blaming Macron’s political choices and Bayrou’s unwillingness to engage with their criticism for deepening the crisis, just days ahead of a “Block Everything” protest in France (14:06, 15:52, 16:12, 17:29, 17:38, 17:42, 18:01).
In his speech, Bayrou argued that France needed to face dramatic reforms on debt (15:15) and reinvent its social model (15:10) to reverse the trend of “getting poorer a little more” every year and renew the French social contract with future generations (15:24, 15:28).
Separately, Marine Le Pen’s appeal against a conviction of misappropriating EU funds will be heard in January next year, a Paris court decided (14:31).
Elsewhere,
The Norwegian Labour party looked likely to remain in government as polls closed on Monday night, as preliminary results showed the centre-left had a narrow lead after a polarised election that saw a surge of support for the populist right (21:03, 21:05, 21:14, 21:16, 21:18, 21:23, 21:32, 22:20).
The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has warned that Russian president Vladimir Putin’s “imperialist plan wouldn’t end with the conquest of Ukraine but would rather be just the start” (14:57).
EU diplomats have been briefing journalists that the European Commission is expected to propose a 19th package of sanctions against Russia by Friday (14:58).
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Norway’s Labour party holds narrow lead in early election results - first story
Nordic correspondent
The Norwegian Labour party looked likely to remain in government as polls closed on Monday night, as preliminary results showed the centre-left had a narrow lead after a polarised election that saw a surge of support for the populist right.
With 75% of the vote counted, state broadcaster NRK projected the centre left would win with 89 seats and that the centre right would take 80 seats. A minimum of 85 seats are needed for a majority.
“It’s very close, but the centre-left is in the lead,” Johannes Bergh, the research director and principal investigator at the Norwegian national election studies programme at the Institute for Social Research, said after polls closed at 9pm local time. But, he added: “The Progress party is doing very well.”
According to forecasts, Labour, led by the prime minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, had clearly emerged as the largest party, but they also showed a big swell in support for the populist Progress party, which was projected to have doubled in size in the last four years.
Looking at the early projections, it’s worth noting that the anti-immigration populist Progress Party appears to be essentially doubling its result from the previous election in 2021.
Updated
Meanwhile, Nettavisen’s poll of 6,295 voters indicated an even bigger win for the leftwing bloc, giving it 92 seats to 77 for the conservative grouping and declaring it a “knockout” win for the Labour party.
The poll claims to see an indication of a very good result for the Green party, which it puts – in contrast to other projections – at 6.8% of the vote with 11 mandates in the new parliament. Let’s see if that holds.
Updated
TV2 has just updated its projection, giving the leftwing bloc 91 seats in the next parliament, with the rightwing bloc at 78.
Labour party 28.5% (54)
Progress party 23.7% (43)
Conservative party 14.8% (25)
Centre Party 6.8% (12)
Socialist Left 5.1% (9)
Red 5.1% (9)
Green party 4.1% (7)
Christian Democratic party 4.1% (7)
Liberal Party 3.7% (3)
Reminder: you need 85 for majority.
Updated
Result of Norwegian election 'very close' but centre-left in lead – expert
Nordic correspondent
Johannes Bergh, the research director and principal investigator at the Norwegian national election studies programme at the Institute for Social Research, says it is looking “very close” but that the centre-left is in the lead.
The populist rightwing Progress party is, he adds, “doing very well” though.
Updated
The first numbers and projections out of Norway suggest Jonas Gahr Støre will remain in power leading a government relying on smaller parties to pass key legislation, including budgets.
But as my colleague Miranda Bryant noted in her pre-election piece, Labour Party is likely to face drawn out negotiations with smaller leftwing parties, particularly over oil fund investment in Israel, which has led to popular finance minister Jens Stoltenberg coming under heavy scrutiny in recent weeks.
First numbers from Norway
NRK broadcaster, projection:
Labour party 27.9% (52)
Progress party 23.9% (46)
Conservative party 14.6% (25)
Centre party 5.7% (10)
Socialist Left 5.6% (10)
Red party 5.4% (9)
Green party 4.6% (8)
Christian Democratic party 4.2% (7)
Liberal party 3.8% (2)
The leftwing bloc 89 seats
The rightwing bloc 80 seats
VG daily, projection:
Labour party 28%
Progress party 24.7%
Conservative party 14.4%
Centre party 5.7%
Socialist Left 5.5%
Red party 5.4%
Green party 4.6%
Christian Democratic party 4.1%
Liberal party 3.4%
The leftwing bloc 88 seats
The rightwing bloc 81 seats
Updated
Leftwing bloc of Labour and partners expected to get majority - projections
Norway’s minority Labour party government is on course to narrowly win re-election in the country’s parliamentary election, projections by broadcasters NRK and TV2 and daily VG showed as voting ended, Reuters reported.
The leftwing bloc of Labour and four smaller parties was projected to win 87 or 88 seats, more than the 85 needed for a majority, while rightwing parties headed by Progress and the Conservatives were on track for 82 or 81 seats, the first two projections showed.
Updated
Norway's Labour party government expected to win re-election – projections
Norway’s Labour party government is expected to win re-election, projections by TV2 and public broadcaster NRK show.
Updated
The Norwegian results can be a bit confusing, as we are going to get a set of early results from advance voting, two projections by NRK and TV2, and a poll of voters by Nettavisen.
These are different methods, and therefore are likely to show different numbers. They are also likely to slightly fluctuate and change as we get more results. Let’s see if we can make sense out of all of this.
It’s all due to the country’s complex electoral laws, and (brilliantly) explained here (in Norwegian).
François Bayrou ousted as French PM after losing confidence vote – first report
Angelique Chrisafis in Paris
François Bayrou has been ousted in a confidence vote after only nine months as prime minister, collapsing his minority government and plunging France into a political crisis.
Bayrou, 74, will hand his resignation to Emmanuel Macron, his longterm centrist ally, on Tuesday morning.
The French president now faces the challenge of appointing his third prime minister in only one year, and the fifth since he began his second term of office in 2022. His office said he would make the decision “in the coming days”.
Bayrou was toppled when 364 deputies voted that they had no confidence in the government. Just 194 gave him their confidence. Bayrou had called the vote himself as a last-ditch gamble for support, saying he needed backing from parliament for austerity measures to reduce the public debt.
As head of state with authority on foreign policy and national security, Macron directly appoints a prime minister to run domestic affairs. But since last year’s election there has been no absolute majority in the national assembly, creating a form of political deadlock and disagreement on the budget. This means there is no certainty that a new prime minister would be safe from being ousted.
France is facing a day of protest actions on Wednesday organised online by a movement called “Block Everything”, which could see roads, schools and businesses shut down. Public sector strikes are to follow.
The priority for Macron is to appoint a prime minister able to push through a budget for 2026.
Updated
French confidence vote – party breakdown
And here is the official party breakdown on the vote on Bayrou’s future.
You will note that Wauquiez’s party is the only one that has visibly divided into two camps, with 27 supporting the prime minister, and 13 voting against (9 further abstained.)
Updated
The Republican Right’s Laurent Wauquiez said in his response to tonight’s vote that “a work programme is needed” and should be agreed before naming the next PM.
In a post on X, he said “we must learn from the mistakes of the past,” and agree on the government’s programme before picking the person for it.
Not sure that’s Macron’s intention though if he wants to pick the next PM in the coming days already.
Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen’s the National Rally ruled out supporting Xavier Bertrand as the potential next PM after his name appeared to be under consideration, Le Figaro reported.
Updated
First Norway results, projections expected later tonight
Just a reminder that we will also keep an eye on the first results and projections coming in from Norway tonight, in about an hour from now.
Here is another background piece on the Norwegian vote to help you get to know the issues that dominated the campaign:
But as the electoral silence continues there, the only thing we know for sure at the moment is that the pint of beer at the Labour Party’s election night costs 105 NOK, which is about £7.76, via NG.
But for now, we are staying on France with reactions to the parliament’s decision to oust Francois Bayrou and his government.
Updated
Could Macron move to name the new PM before Block Everything protests on Wednesday? - snap analysis
One thing to watch is what does it actually mean when Macron says he will appoint the new PM “in the coming days.”
He is not usually one to wait and let others to impose the agenda, so one could see him naming the new PM before the “Block Everything” protests on Wednesday, 10 September in a bid to get ahead of the narrative there. Or does he need more time?
Armed forces minister Sébastien Lecornu and justice minister Gérald Darmanin are seen as potential candidates, but perhaps Macron can surprise us all with someone very different?
It’s all speculation at this stage and we will have to wait and see, but all these issues will be weighing on his mind as he decides the next steps.
New PM to be named 'in the coming days,' Élysée says
The Élysée Palace has just confirmed that the president, Emmanuel Macron, will name the new prime minister “in the coming days.”
Bayrou is expected to go to the Élysée Palace to formally tender his resignation at 8am tomorrow morning, France Info reports.
But he will remain in post until his successor gets appointed.
For what it’s worth, Liberation points out that Bayrou got even worse numbers than Michel Barnier, when he was ousted in December last year after a record-breaking three-month stint.
331 lawmakers voted against Barnier in December; 364 – 33 more – opposed Bayrou tonight.
Bayrou’s fall and a divided parliament hardly offer the stability Macron needs - snap analysis
in Paris
Since Macron’s gamble of calling a snap election last June, the parliament remains divided between three groups – the left, the centre and the far right – none of which has a majority. This has created deadlock on economic policy and divisions over the most basic political task: setting a budget for 2026.
Bayrou fell because of his unpopular austerity budget to curb public debt. France must now urgently agree a budget for next year. But there is no certainty that any new prime minister chosen by Macron could achieve budget consensus or indeed escape being similarly ousted. Bayrou lasted barely nine months and, before him, the rightwing Michel Barnier was toppled after only three.
Even if Macron were to call another snap election – which is not his favoured choice with Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally leading in the polls – parliament could probably remain just as divided and deadlocked, without a clear majority.
Macron, whose presidency runs until 2027, might now chose a prime minister closer to the centre-left. But that would be difficult because the president refuses to budge on his economic agenda, dating from 2017, which has included tax cuts on businesses, scrapping the wealth tax and raising the pension age. All of these the Socialists want to roll back.
Macron might instead again look towards the centre right for a prime minister who could keep on board the rightwing Les Républicains party, which has propped up the minority government so far. But they would face the same budget rows.
Updated
Bayrou to submit resignation on Tuesday morning, government says
The Matignon has just confirmed that the ousted prime minister will submit his resignation to Emmanuel Macron tomorrow morning, Reuters says.
Another alternative is on the left, Vallaud says after Bayrou's government falls
The Socialists’ parliamentary leader Boris Vallaud says in his first reaction that his group wanted to use today’s debate to “remind everyone that, contrary to what the prime minister said, there is another path” as he argues the left should be given the task of forming the next government.
He says Macron needs to face the reality that he lost the election last year, and there is a “considerable” demand for change.
“If he loves this country, if he cares about the interests of the French, if he doesn’t want to leave the only alternative to the far-right, he will do it,” he says.
Result as expected, but it's still a big moment with focus now turning to Macron - snap analysis
The result is entirely as expected, but still, it’s a big, big moment in French politics.
The ball is now in Macron’s court to decide on what’s next.
Updated
Francois Bayrou loses confidence vote, will tender resignation
Officially confirmed.
For 194
AGAINST 364
Updated
The vote has now closed and we are waiting for the result.
Vote on Bayrou's government under way - in pictures
Bayrou closes debate as vote on confidence in his government about to get under way
We’re nearing the end of the debate, and Bayrou is now back speaking from the podium.
He calls out some of the more radical language in the debate, thanks his ministers, and reiterates some of the main points from his earlier speech saying it’s “a moment of truth” – but this is unlikely to make aby substantial difference at this stage.
We will now go ahead with the vote, which is expected to take 30 minutes, and will close 6.50pm local time (5.50pm UK).
Mathilde Panot, for the hard-left France Unbowed, quickly shatters Attal’s hope for any consensus-based politics as she goes all out against Bayrou and his government.
She says her group is pleased to “never endorsed a single one of your budgets,” accusing successive governments of “leading us into the wall.”
“We do not share your diagnosis, and even less so your remedies,” she says.
She closely links her criticism of Bayrou and Macron, saying towards the end of her speech: “The president doesn’t want to change his policy, so we will have to change the president.”
Updated
Attal hails Bayrou for his “desire of transparency and frankness,” as he says while “none of the MPs in my group will vote to give the government a blank cheque, … [they] will vote for the general interest in stability.”
He calls for a broader, honest debate on the budget in the spirit of consensus.
“Bringing down the government will not resolve either the challenges facing France or the problems of the French people,” he repeats, warning it would only “set our country back a little further.”
Updated
Gabriel Attal, who served as France’s prime minister between January and September 2024, is up next.
He warns that the French are increasingly disenchanted with politics and parliamentary democracy, “at the risk of playing with fire.”
He says “we are living through an exceptional moment in our history,” and insists “France cannot get stuck every month.” “Every month of uncertainty or indecision is a greater threat to the future of the French people,” he says.
But he warns against some people pursuing “a scorched earth policy,” with political posturing and chaos taking precedence over national interest.
“It’s not up to the French to solve the problems of parliament, but up to parliament to solve the problems of the French in front of them,” he quips.
He says that bringing a government would always carries “a political cost, a cost for France,” as he lists practical consequences of not passing a budget – including for the country’s defence, army, and the broader public sector.
Le Pen ends on a strong note, saying that the government should “not wait for the RN to follow you in your fiscal and immigration madness,” as she openly pushes for snap elections.
She says “if the people honour us with a clear mandate … we will go to Matignon to implement, without waiting for the presidential election, a national recovery program for change that can no longer wait.”
Le Pen urges Macron to dissolve parliament, call snap election
Le Pen says that France needs “a reset” to “restart the machine burdened by bugs,” as he insists that Macron should resign in response.
“But since this decision depends solely on him … I don’t expect anything on this point,” she concedes.
Instead, she makes a case for dissolving the assembly and calling a snap election, saying this power granted to the president was meant to be “an institutional lever, to break the deadlock.”
She acknowledges rumours that Macron has no intention of doing that, but insists “he must act out of duty … and in the best interest of the country.”
“Everything suggests that legally, politically, and even morally, that dissolution is not an option, but an obligation,” she argues.
She claims that continuing paralysis of the government could turn into a broader crisis, making a passing reference to the 10 September Block Everything movement.
Updated
Le Pen blasts Bayrou's government, decades of alleged mismanagement of public affairs
The National Rally’s Marine Le Pen is speaking now.
She says the parliament faces “a special political moment,” as she says “those in charge are forced to confront the disastrous results” of decades of mismanagement the consequences of which will affect the generations to come.
She says “what will be remembered above all is the unwavering and unwelcome solidarity of the former political forces” who are responsible for the state of affairs.
Le Pen says the debate marks the “the end of the agony of a phantom government,” which she says “wasn’t governing, but merely administering” the country.
Back to France, Marine Tondelier, the head of the Green party, also doesn’t seem to be too convinced by Bayrou’s speech earlier today.
In a post on X, she said it was a “lacklustre finale,” noting that his speech was “shorter than expected” making it look like “he wasn’t even trying to convince anyone.”
Norway heads to the polls in highly polarised ‘Maga-fication’ election
Nordic correspondent
In other big news today, Norway goes to the polls on Monday after an unusually close-fought and polarised election dominated by the cost of living, wealth taxes, oil fund investment in Israel and relations with Donald Trump.
There has been a surge in support for the populist rightwing Progress party led by Sylvi Listhaug, in what has been described by some as “the Maga-fication” of Norwegian politics. In the event of a rightwing victory, Listhaug could become prime minister.
But according to polls, the most probable result is a narrow win for the centre-left, meaning a likely continuation of the minority Labour government led by Jonas Gahr Støre, who has been prime minister since 2021, with the former Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg, one of Norway’s most popular politicians, as finance minister.
If, however, Labour does win they could face drawn out negotiations with smaller leftwing parties, particularly over oil fund investment in Israel, which has led to Stoltenberg coming under heavy scrutiny in recent weeks.
After a speech by Cyrielle Chatelain for the Green party’s parliamentary group and a brief break – just 12 minutes – the debate is back under way, with Marc Fesneau speaking now, for the Democrats group.
Updated
We have got at least 10 leaders to go before the vote, including some big hitters, so I will keep monitoring the debate to bring you the key lines.
You can also keep watching it on our live stream (in French) below:
Wauquiez also talks about the instability “eating up” French politics, warning it’s an “economic poison” affecting the state.
He makes a specific reference to the 10 September protests, warning that in his view “the far left is the primary political danger” for France.
He says his party engaged with Bayrou with its proposals, but “have never heard back.”
“You made a choice. I respect it, but I never ask the deputies in my group to vote against their mind,” he says, as he hints they will divide into those backing the government “without any enthusiasm,” and those rejecting it and feeling their voices were not heard.
Laurent Wauquiez is up next, speaking for the Republican Right.
If you were in any doubt, Vallaud confirms that his party won’t back Bayrou, as he uses his speech to outline an alternative version of government – and he ends on an invitation to Macron: “We are ready if he comes to search for us.”
Updated
Vallaud says Macron 'a defeated president' and no-confidence vote is 'a cop-out' by Bayrou
Opening the block of parliamentary groups’ responses, Vallaud says today’s sitting is one the Socialists “neither desired, not organised,” as he launches a blistering attack on Bayrou and Macron, “a defeated president” who he holds responsible for the current situation.
“Do you like the truth? Here it is,” he says, as he blames Macron for “improverishing the poor, enriching the rich, and turning his back on the future.”
He says Bayrou’s decision to call the vote is not “a act of courage, but a cop-out” and an attempt to retreat from responsibility for the current crisis.
He says the policies of the government amounted not just to “a fatal error, but a moral failing.”
Ouch. Guess that’s a no then.
Updated
Bayrou ends after 43 minutes with a passionate defence of democracy, urging lawmakers to abandon “the curse of perpetual division.”
He calls for lawmakers to show their conscience instead, to face the reality, and choose the path of “shared truth and courage” together.
And that’s it.
We will now get responses from the key political groups, starting with Boris Vallaud, the head of the Socialist parliamentary group.
Acknowledging the dramatic situation of his government, Bayrou argues that his resignation wouldn’t change much, as he tells lawmakers “you have the power to overthrow the government, you do not have the power to erase reality.”
He says that if no action is taken, “spending will continue to increase even more,” with the “already unbearable debt burden … becoming heavier and heavier.”
He says he chooses to take his constitutional responsibility seriously in a last minute bid to win the parliament over, ignoring the political noise in the media, but appealing to their “personal conscience”.
Quoting de Gaulle, he says political logic naturally drives parties to oppose each other and challenge each other, and not to work together, but says that “no good” can come out of that.
Updated
Bayrou says the past decisions on debt “have broken the contract of trust” between generations, leaving the younger generations behind and frustrated with the state.
He talks about problems they face with finding work, housing, as he says it is “not sustainable” from a moral, civic, and democratic position.
Bayrou warns that the debt means that France works hoping to get richer, but “every year it gets poorer a little more,” as he says it cannot continue.
He compares himself to a captain of a ship that leaks as he says “our duty is first and foremost to make the ship watertight” as quickly as possible.
He says that some want to delay the costly decisions, but he insists “if we want to save the ship, the ship on which we are and our children are, we must act without delay.”
He then talks about the importance of strong France, as he adds that “submission to debt is like submission by military force,” and adds: “In both cases, we lose our freedom.”
French vote of confidence - in pictures
Bayrou stresses the issue of budget deficit and insufficient spending controls is central to all these considerations.
He says that France has ran a budget deficit for 51 years, calling it out “a reflex, or worse, an addiction” of the French state to finance it’s expenses with more money it doesn’t have.
Bayrou says that France faces a number of urgent issues that require urgent answers, pointing to falling productivity, education, migration, and questions on how to keep the French social model alive as it faces growing deficit, demographic issues, the imbalance in the pension system, shortage of housing and increasingly severe environmental and security problems.
“The model needs to be reinvented,” he says.
Bayrou says lawmakers face 'not a political, but historical question' on future of France
Bayrou begins his speech by saying that some of his critics probably considered his decision to call the vote too risky.
But he says he believes the opposite and “the biggest risk would be to not take any risks, to let things carry on as they are, to play politics as usual.”
He says lawmakers will face “not a political question, but a historical question” that will shape the future of France.
French debate on vote of confidence begins
The debate on the government’s motion is beginning right now.
I will bring you all the key updates here.
You can also watch it (in French) below.
EU expected to propose new sanctions package on Russia by Friday
And over in Brussels, EU diplomats have been briefing journalists that the European Commission is expected to propose a 19th package of sanctions against Russia by Friday, Reuters said.
The EU has stepped up its listings and is no longer shying away from larger entities in third countries, and it could list banks in two central Asian countries too, they said.
In its 18th package, the bloc listed two Chinese banks and India’s major Nayara refinery at Vadinar.
The diplomats declined to provide further details of the upcoming new package.
Russia's invasion of Ukraine 'just the start,' Germany's Merz warns
Meanwhile over in Berlin, the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has warned that Russian president Vladimir Putin’s “imperialist plan wouldn’t end with the conquest of Ukraine but would rather be just the start,” AFP reported.
Speaking at a conference of Germany’s ambassadors, Merz said “we are experiencing daily and with increasing intensity hybrid Russian attacks, including on our infrastructure” and pointed to Moscow’s “provocations in the North and Baltic Seas”.
PM Bayrou’s column is now making its way to parliament.
The debate is scheduled to start in under 15 minutes, although on days like this the schedules tend to slip a bit.
I will keep an eye on Paris and bring you all the key updates here.
There really appears to be very little doubt among commentators as to what will be the outcome of today’s vote.
France Info headlines their live broadcast from the parliament simply as “Bayrou’s last hours at Matignon.”
RN to vote against Bayrou, Bardella confirms as he calls for fresh elections
Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally and a close ally of Marine Le Pen, has just confirmed that their grouping will vote against the prime minister this afternoon.
“Emmanuel Macron holds in his hands the only solution to get our country out of the political impasse: returning to the polls,” he said.
Le Pen's appeal on EU funds conviction to be heard in January 2026
In the meantime, there is also an important update on an appeal brought by French far-right leader Marine Le Pen and other National Party officials against a conviction of misappropriating EU funds.
A Paris court said the appeal will start on 13 January 2026.
'Block Everything' movement highlights unsettled situation in France
in Paris
What adds even more to the unsettled situation in France is there is a protest expected to take place next week known as Block Everything, which could mean roads and businesses barricaded amid street demonstrations, which will be followed by union-led hospital and rail strikes in coming weeks.
The government fears a re-awakening of the gilets jaunes (yellow vest) anti-government protest movement in 2018 and the 2023 demonstrations against Macron’s increase to the pension age.
Many of the protesters organising online have spoken of economic injustice. While France’s strong social security safety net had traditionally counterbalanced the gaping inequality in some of its European neighbours, research has shown poverty in France is increasing, while the growing concentration of inherited wealth has sparked comparisons to 19th-century France.
Marion Carrel, sociology professor at the University of Lille, said there was a feeling in France of “the little people versus the big”, which gave a “pre-revolutionary” atmosphere to the preparations for protests, even if she felt not everyone struggling to make ends meet would take to the streets.
There’s a strong anger at not being listened to, and a feeling that politics is going nowhere.
Macron has ruled out resigning – there is too much at stake on the international stage with Ukraine and the Middle East. But calls for him to go have come not just from the left’s Jean-Luc Mélenchon, but also from some on the more traditional right.
Politicians on all sides feel their only hope is to harness the anger. Béatrice Bellay, a Socialist MP on the island of Martinique, where there have been protests over the high cost of living, with prices far greater than in mainland France, said:
“There is something in the general atmosphere, which is not just French, but almost global: a kind of cold anger because people see an ultra-free-market capitalist system crushing people and making their life all about survival.
There’s a sense of injustice and that something is wrong with the system.”
French confidence vote does not threaten euro zone stability, Germany says
Amid growing questions about the consequences of today’s vote, a German government spokesperson insisted that even a collapse of the French government would not threaten the stability of the eurozone.
“Eurozone stability depends on many states, on all market participants,” the spokesperson said, reported by Reuters.
“There is no need to question this stability now.”
As my colleagues over on our business live blog are saying, some people seem to have a different view on that as investor confidence dropped sharply in September.
Opposition parties make it clear they will vote against Bayrou's government - analysis
in Paris
Opposition parties from the left to the far right have made clear they will vote against the 74-year-old centrist, meaning he and his minority government would fall after only nine months in office.
The centrist president, Emmanuel Macron, is then likely to face the challenge of appointing his third prime minister in a year, and the fifth since he began his second term in office in 2022.
As head of state with authority on foreign policy and national security, the president directly appoints a prime minister to run domestic affairs.
But after Macron called a snap parliamentary election last year, the national assembly has been divided into three blocs – left, centre and far right – with no absolute majority, creating a form of political deadlock and disagreement on the budget. This means there is no certainty that a new prime minister would be safe from a similar swift ousting.
Macron could also decide to call a new snap parliamentary election, although he has said he is reluctant to do so.
Bayrou shocked even his centrist allies by calling the surprise confidence vote, saying he needed backing from parliament for austerity measures to reduce the public debt.
A long-term Macron ally, Bayrou was struggling to get support for his unpopular plan for a €44bn (£38bn) budget squeeze and austerity programme to reduce France’s public debt. His budget proposals, including scrapping two public holidays and freezing most welfare spending, were contested across the political spectrum.
Bayrou will make a speech to parliament on Monday afternoon appealing for support and giving his take on the state of the nation and French public debt. This will be followed by speeches from the leaders of every parliamentary grouping, before a ballot of lawmakers.
Opening: Bye-rou?
It’s been a long summer of speculations about the French government’s future amid growing controversies about its plans for the country’s next budget seeking to rein in spiraling state deficit and debts.
But it will all be clear today as the National Assembly holds a vote of confidence in François Bayrou’s embattled government. According to the declarations from the party leaders, he has little change of securing the majority required to cling on.
Bayrou would be the third prime minister to lose the post in a year, leaving the president, Emmanuel Macron, in a difficult political position and an impossible vacancy to fill. A Verian poll for Le Figaro magazine this weekend found only 15% of French people trust Macron to resolve the political crisis.
For background on how we got to this point, here is a handy explainer from our Angelique Chrisafis in Paris.
The debate is set to start at 2pm BST (3pm Paris), and the key vote is expected to be closer to 6pm BST (7pm Paris).
If everything goes as we expect it to, 74-year-old Bayrou will be gone by the evening, even if technically he will remain in post as a caretaker until his successor can be found.
One of the key questions is about Macron’s next step. Will he appoint a new, potentially younger, prime minister to have another go? Or would he dissolve the parliament and call a snap election in a hope it could resolve the current stand-off?
Let’s see. Lots for us to talk about.
It’s Monday, 8 September 2025, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good afternoon.
