PARIS, Sept 9, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Prime Minister Francois Bayrou submitted his 
resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday after France's parliament 
ousted the government, with the French leader under pressure to find a 
successor in a deepening political crisis.

On Monday, Bayrou suffered a crushing loss in a confidence vote he had 
himself called, plunging France into fresh uncertainty and leaving Macron 
with the task of finding the seventh premier of his mandate.

The French president's office said in a statement that Macron "took note" of 
the outcome and would name a new premier "in the next days", ending any 
remaining speculation that the president could instead call snap elections.

Bayrou was seen by AFP correspondents arriving at the Elysee Palace to hand 
in his resignation and then leaving just over an hour later.

A source close to Bayrou, asking not to be named, confirmed he had submitted 
his resignation to Macron.

Bayrou remains in charge on a caretaker basis until a successor is named.

The French president has in the past been notoriously slow in "casting" a new 
prime minister.

But he is widely expected on this occasion not to procrastinate given the 
risk of financial and political instability.

"Emmanuel Macron is now in the front line to find a solution to the political 
crisis," said the Liberation daily.

France's borrowing costs, a measure of investor confidence, on Tuesday surged 
slightly higher than those for Italy, long one of Europe's debt laggards.

- 'Vulnerable' -

Bayrou had blindsided even his allies by calling a confidence vote to end a 
lengthy standoff over his austerity budget, which foresaw almost 44 billion 
euros ($52 billion) of cost savings to reduce France's debt pile.

In the end, 364 deputies in the National Assembly voted that they had no 
confidence in the government, while just 194 gave it their confidence.

Bayrou was the sixth prime minister under Macron since his 2017 election, and 
the fifth since 2022.

His predecessor, Michel Barnier, was brought down by a no-confidence vote in 
December.

The crisis dates back to summer 2024 legislative elections that resulted in a 
hung parliament.

"Emmanuel Macron, a vulnerable president," said the Le Monde daily.

- Critical juncture -

Macron, who has been leading diplomatic efforts internationally to end 
Russia's war on Ukraine, now faces one of the most critical domestic 
decisions of his presidency over who to appoint as premier.

The Socialist Party (PS) has expressed readiness to lead a new government but 
it is far from clear whether such an administration, led by a figure such as 
PS leader Olivier Faure, could survive.

If Macron opts for a centrist who enjoys his trust, the president could name 
a figure like Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, whose future is the subject 
of intense speculation.

Lecornu has been in his post more than three years, for most of Russia's 
invasion of Ukraine, and is a staunch supporter of Kyiv. He is seen as a 
discreet but highly skilled operator who, crucially for Macron, himself 
harbours no ambition of becoming president.

Lower-profile options who could have a better chance of centre-left consensus 
include Health Minister Catherine Vautrin, Finance Minister Eric Lombard or 
parliament speaker Yael Braun-Pivet.

- 'Break with the politics' -

Alongside political upheaval, France is also facing social tensions.

A left-wing collective named "Block Everything" is calling for a day of 
action on Wednesday and trade unions have urged workers to strike on 
September 18.

"We need a prime minister very rapidly" as there should not be a "power 
vacuum" ahead of the protests on Wednesday, said Interior Minister Bruno 
Retailleau, who is also leader of the main right-wing The Republicans Party.

The 2027 presidential election meanwhile remains wide open, with analysts 
predicting the French far right will have its best-ever chance of winning. 
Macron is forbidden from standing for a third term in 2027.

The hopes of three-time presidential candidate for the far-right National 
Rally (RN), Marine Le Pen, depend on the outcome of an appeal hearing early 
next year over her conviction for a European Parliament fake jobs scam that 
disqualified her from standing for office.

RN leader Jordan Bardella told broadcaster RTL on Tuesday the party would 
move to bring down any government that does not "break with the politics of 
the last eight years" under Macron and reaffirmed a call for early 
legislative elections.