Europe
Lagarde faces French fiscal questions at ECB rate decision
The ECB president must address her homeland's mounting debt crisis while keeping deposit rates at 2 percent and avoiding any signal of market intervention.
Person
François Bayrou
Prime Minister of France, Government of France
What we have reported
- Lost a confidence vote after failing to secure support for €44 billion in proposed budget cuts.
- Resigned after nine months when his austerity budget was rejected in a landslide confidence vote, becoming the third French premier to fall in a year.
- Lost a confidence vote 364-194 after nine months in office, having gambled on parliamentary backing for 44 billion euros of spending cuts.
Coverage
Politics
France's revolving premiership fuels far-right prospects as Russian drones test NATO
Sébastien Lecornu becomes France's fourth prime minister in 14 months while Bloquons Tout! protests spread and Russian drones penetrate Polish airspace, raising questions about both domestic stability and European security.
Politics
Bayrou ousted in confidence vote as France faces fourth prime minister in a year
The National Assembly voted 364 to 194 to topple François Bayrou's government, leaving Emmanuel Macron to find a replacement who can survive a fractured parliament and a debt crisis that has pushed borrowing to 114 per cent of GDP.
Europe
Lagarde rules out IMF rescue for France despite political crisis
ECB president says French bond spreads have risen but country does not meet IMF bailout conditions, while warning Trump's attacks on Fed independence threaten global economy
Politics
Le Pen moves to topple Bayrou government despite election ban
National Rally leader calculates that forcing new elections serves her party better than letting Macron's camp own an unpopular €43.8 billion austerity package.
Politics
Bayrou stakes premiership on confidence vote as French opposition unites against him
Prime minister faces near-certain defeat on 8 September with only 210 government deputies against 353 opposition MPs, leaving France facing its third prime minister in under a year.
Politics
Bayrou stakes government on confidence vote over €44bn austerity plan
French prime minister calls September 8 vote on spending cuts as opposition parties from left and right unite against him, risking third government collapse in a year
Politics
Macron allies push to give National Rally parliamentary posts
Centrist deputies argue the far right's exclusion from the National Assembly Bureau fuels victimhood narratives, but the move would further erode the firewall maintained across Europe.
Politics
Macon faces pressure to call second snap election as Bayrou government falters
One year after his gamble backfired, the French president again holds the constitutional power to dissolve parliament. Allies say he is tempted, despite public denials.
Politics
National Rally threatens to topple Bayrou government after Le Pen conviction
Far-right party signals it may withdraw support for minority government, raising prospect of fresh political crisis just four months after Barnier's fall
Politics
Far-right parties cannibalising Europe's centre-right across the continent
From Germany to Austria, mainstream conservatives are adopting hardline immigration platforms to stem voter losses, but evidence shows the strategy only strengthens the radical right.
Politics
Bayrou survives no-confidence vote but French parliament remains deadlocked
Far-right National Rally and centre-left Socialists refuse to back far-left motion, leaving prime minister dependent on case-by-case support with no legislative majority.
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