French PM Bayrou risks cabinet collapse with confidence vote on major budget cuts

French Prime Minister François Bayrou called for a confidence vote on 8 September as his minority government seeks National Assembly support for €43.8 billion in budget cuts, risking collapse if three opposition parties follow through on threats to vote against him.

Bayrou announced the confidence vote on Monday, which he said would reveal whether other parties are genuinely prepared to support his proposal to reduce the national deficit.

Three opposition parties have already stated they will not back him: the far-right National Rally, the Greens and the Socialist Party. Bayrou's minority government is set to collapse if he loses the vote.

The prime minister acknowledged the risk of seeking the confidence vote, but noted it was necessary as the country was going through "a moment of hesitation and turmoil" that required "clarification".

“We face an immediate danger which we must tackle … otherwise we have no future,” he said.

In Bayrou's view, debt is a question of "sovereignty" and "independence".

France to drop two public holidays?

The cuts proposed in the budget involve reducing the number of people employed in the civil service and a "solidarity contribution" for "the wealthiest" as well as pension reforms.

They also propose getting rid of two public holidays, with Easter Monday and 8 May cited as possible contenders.

This has raised eyebrows in particular, considering 8 May is celebrated as Victory in Europe Day, which marks the surrender of Nazi Germany in 1945 and the end of World War II on the continent.

Bayrou has defended his proposal, saying the measures would make it possible to increase productivity without raising taxes or VAT.

"To only debate the measures is to ignore the need for an overall plan", Bayrou explained.

However, all of the points in his proposal are "amendable" and "debatable," according to Bayrou.

Bayrou's predecessor Michel Barnier lost a no-confidence vote in December last year, forcing him to resign after just three months in office.

The confidence vote is set to take place on two days before protests planned largely by leftist organisations and trade unions.

The protests have been compared to the "gilets jaunes" or yellow vest protests in 2018. The demonstrations had initially erupted in response to fuel price hikes and the rise in cost of living, but eventually became symbolic of a broader movement against economic reforms.