French Prime Minister François Bayrou has survived his sixth no-confidence vote since taking office on 13 December last year, as political tensions continue to grip the country.
The no-confidence motion, launched by the Socialist Party (PS), secured only 181 votes in the National Assembly, falling well short of the 289 required to oust Bayrou, according to results announced by the Speaker’s representative on Wednesday night.
The Socialists initiated the motion in protest against Bayrou’s use of the term “migratory submersion,” accusing him of contributing to France’s “political and moral decline.” The remarks, which echoed far-right rhetoric on immigration, have drawn sharp criticism from left-wing parties.
Despite the opposition’s efforts, the far-right National Rally (RN) had made it clear it would not support the no-confidence motion, diminishing its chances of success.
Meanwhile, the hard-left party La France Insoumise (LFI) backed the measure despite acknowledging that the Socialists had not supported their previous no-confidence motions against Bayrou.
Bayrou was appointed Prime Minister by President Emmanuel Macron in December following the ousting of his predecessor, Michel Barnier, in a no-confidence vote.
Since taking office, he has faced continuous political turbulence, with his government enduring a series of challenges in Parliament.
His most recent survival marks the fourth no-confidence motion against his administration in just a matter of days. However, Bayrou faces a difficult path ahead as he navigates what he has described as a budgetary “Himalaya.”
With his government lacking a solid majority, the veteran centrist leader remains under constant pressure from both ends of the political spectrum.
Bayrou’s controversial remarks on immigration, in which he suggested parts of France were being “flooded” by migrants, have fuelled further divisions.
The Socialists, angered by the comments, pledged to introduce the no-confidence vote over what they described as the government’s failure to uphold “republican values.” However, without support from the National Rally, the motion had little chance of passing.
A lawmaker close to Marine Le Pen, the former President of the National Rally, dismissed the motion outright. Speaking anonymously, the politician stated, “We’re not signing this rag,” confirming the party’s refusal to support the measure.
Earlier this month, Bayrou had already survived a separate no-confidence vote initiated by LFI after he invoked Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to push through France’s 2025 state budget bill and the first part of the Social Security financing bill without a parliamentary vote.
LFI, angered by his use of the constitutional provision, attempted to unseat him twice but failed to gather enough support.
France has been grappling with political instability since Macron’s surprise decision to call snap elections in June, which resulted in a hung parliament.
The fractured legislature has led to intense political wrangling, particularly over budgetary matters, shaking investor confidence and deepening divisions among lawmakers.
Follow us
