France has been plunged into a new political crisis with the defeat of Prime Minister François Bayrou at a confidence vote in the National Assembly.
The defeat – by 364 votes to 194 – means Mr Bayrou will present his government’s resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.
According to BBC News, Mr Macron’s options include: naming a new prime minister from the centre-right; pivoting to the left and finding a name compatible with the Socialist Party; or dissolving parliament to make way for new elections.
Mr Macron’s rivals in the far-left France Unbowed party are also calling for him personally to resign, but few commentators think it likely.
Mr Bayrou had staked his leadership on securing parliamentary approval for a budget plan that aimed to slash a deficit almost double the European Union’s 3% ceiling and a debt load worth 114% of GDP.
