FRANCE IS ENTERING CRISIS MODE AGAIN. IT DIDN’T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY
France is facing deep political instability, with Prime Minister François Bayrou likely to become the fourth PM in just 20 months after calling a confidence vote on his €44 billion savings plan. The plan, which scraps two public holidays and freezes spending, is meant to curb France’s spiraling debt, but risks the same fate as his predecessor Michel Barnier, who fell over budget reforms.
The turmoil stems from President Emmanuel Macron’s snap election in 2024, which weakened his party and left parliament divided between the far right and far left. Without a tradition of coalition-building, Macron has struggled, often forcing laws through using Article 49.3, fueling public resentment.
France’s borrowing costs are climbing, with 10-year bond yields surpassing Spain, Portugal, and Greece, undermining Macron’s image as Europe’s strongman. Political paralysis has intensified: the far right demands new elections, which polls suggest would only boost their strength, while the left resists centrist premiers. Possible successors like Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin face almost certain no-confidence votes.
The Fifth Republic, designed by Charles de Gaulle to avoid chronic instability, now appears fractured. Public trust is collapsing, and large-scale protests under the banner “Bloquons tout” (“block everything”) are planned for September 10. Many now believe the far right’s National Rally will eventually take power—if not immediately, then in the 2027 presidential race.
Source:/https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/07/europe/emmanuel-macron-france-president-government-crisis-intl/