Bayrou’s fall and a divided parliament hardly offer the stability Macron needs

<p>The French president will have to choose a new prime minister after resistance to austerity budget unites left and far-right in opposition</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/sep/08/europe-live-macron-france-prime-minister-francois-bayrou-confidence-vote-latest-news">Europe live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>As the French president, Emmanuel Macron, faces a crucial moment on the international stage this month, with the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/24/france-to-recognise-palestinian-state-at-un-general-assembly-macron-says">recognition of a Palestinian state</a> at the UN assembly and diplomacy over Gaza and Ukraine, he has once again been shaken by a damaging political crisis at home.</p><p>The centrist prime minister, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/dec/13/from-farmer-to-premier-who-is-francois-bayrou-the-new-french-prime-minister">François Bayrou</a>, was toppled on Monday night in a parliamentary confidence vote, leaving Macron scrambling to appoint his third prime minister in a year, and the fifth since his second term as president began in 2022.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/08/bayrou-fall-and-divided-parliament-hardly-offer-stability-macron-needs-analysis">Continue reading...</a>