PM Bayrou set to survive no-confidence vote, but political turmoil persists

French Prime Minister François Bayrou is expected to survive a no-confidence vote in parliament this Wednesday, winning some breathing space after less than two months in office but by no means ensuring his long-term future.

On Monday, Bayrou – the veteran centrist named by President Emmanuel Macron in December to end months of political crisis – used the controversial constitutional article to ram his cost-cutting budget through parliament without a vote.

However, the use of this mechanism – article 49.3 – allows the opposition to put forward a no-confidence motion and a move to topple the government was duly proposed by the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), backed by the Communists and the Greens, to be voted on later this Wednesday.

While Bayrou is nowhere near having an outright majority in the National Assembly, the Socialists and far-right National Rally (RN) both said they would not back the no-confidence motion.

This gives the prime minister the numbers to survive and see through the budget.

But it is unlikely to be the only challenge to his shaky administration in the coming months.

Bayrou – a keen historian who has written a book on his hero French king Henri IV assassinated in Paris in 1610 – is well versed in how political ambition can suddenly come to an end.

Turbulent months remain ahead in French politics.

Read more on RFI English

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