France's Bayrou government falls after confidence vote

Prime Minister François Bayrou's minority government fell on Monday after deputies in the National Assembly rejected his confidence motion by 364 votes to 194, forcing the 74 year old to prepare to hand in his resignation and plunging France into renewed political uncertainty. The defeat came after Bayrou asked lawmakers to back an austerity package he said was essential to curb spiraling public debt and deficit.

Bayrou, who called the vote himself in a bid to break a monthslong impasse over his proposed 44 billion euro savings plan for 2026, framed the measures as a national necessity in a final address to parliament. "You have the power to overthrow the government, but you do not have the power to erase reality," he told deputies, warning that unchecked borrowing risked compromising France's sovereignty. Opposition speakers from across the spectrum denounced his proposals. Socialist group chairman Boris Vallaud accused Bayrou of "false promises and betrayals," while far right leader Marine Le Pen urged President Emmanuel Macron to step aside and called anew for snap elections.

The confidence motion was held during an extraordinary session interrupted from summer recess....