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France to get third PM in a year as Bayrou resigns after confidence vote France braces for ‘block everything’ protests after PM Bayrou resigns
(about 3 hours later)
Prime minister hands in resignation after thousands of protesters gather to celebrate ousting and plan day of action Blockades, disruption and strikes planned for Wednesday with about 80,000 police and gendarmes to be deployed
The French prime minister, François Bayrou, has handed in his resignation after losing a confidence vote that has plunged France into government collapse and political crisis. The French prime minister, François Bayrou, has resigned after losing a confidence vote as authorities prepare for a day of disruption and protests ranging from road and school blockades to transport strikes.
Emmanuel Macron has said he will appoint a new prime minister in the coming days, who would then have to form a new government. This will be the third French prime minister in a year, whose first task will be the major challenge of agreeing a budget among a divided parliament. About 80,000 police and gendarmes will be deployed across France on Wednesday to monitor a day of anti-government demonstrations organised under the slogan “block everything”.
About 11,000 protesters gathered in front of town halls across France on Monday night to celebrate Bayrou’s ousting with what they called “Bye bye Bayrou” farewell drinks. The loose protest movement began to organise at the start of the summer on Telegram, social media and chat groups and was later supported by the CGT union and some leftwing parties.
Many of those present used the gatherings as an opportunity to plan for a day of action on Wednesday, which has been given the name: “Block Everything”. About 80,000 police will be mobilised for the protests, which could feature roadblocks and blockades of fuel depots. Protesters plan to blockade fuel depots, hold go-slow operations on roads and demonstrate in some city centres. There will be train strikes on some regional services, particularly in the Paris suburbs. High-school and university students may also stage blockades and protests.
Since the French president called a snap election last year, the parliament is split between three groups – left, centre and far right – with no absolute majority. It is uncertain who as prime minister could find consensus on the budget without also facing a similar ousting. The centrist Bayrou, 74, lasted nine months in office before being ousted over his unpopular debt-reduction budget. Before him, the rightwing Michel Barnier lasted only three months until he was ousted over the budget. The “block everything” movement has no centralised leadership, making it hard to assess how big or disruptive the demonstrations may be.
The government is concerned they could echo the gilets jaunes or yellow vests protests of 2018, which started as an anti-fuel tax movement and became a prolonged anti-government protest organised from the ground up without a clear leader or political allegiance. Unlike the gilets jaunes, however, who began by demonstrating on Saturdays on roundabouts wearing hi-vis vests, the “block everything” movement does not appear to have one focus or style of protest.
A bigger day of trade union strikes will take place across France on 18 September.
The disruption comes as the French president, Emmanuel Macron, mulls who to appoint as the new prime minister following Bayrou’s resignation. The veteran centrist lost a confidence vote on Monday that has plunged France into government collapse and political crisis.
About 11,000 protesters gathered in front of town halls across France on Monday night to celebrate Bayrou’s ousting with what they called “Bye bye Bayrou” farewell drinks.
Macron has said he will appoint a replacement in the coming days, who would then have to form a new government. This will be the third French prime minister in a year, whose first task will be the major challenge of agreeing a budget among a divided parliament.
Bayrou and his ministers will stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new government is named.
Since the French president called a snap election last year, the parliament is split between three groups – left, centre and far right – with no absolute majority. It is uncertain who as prime minister could find consensus on the budget without also facing a similar ousting. Bayrou, 74, lasted nine months in office before being removed over his unpopular debt-reduction budget. Before him, the rightwing Michel Barnier lasted only three months until he was ousted over the budget.
Gabriel Attal, a former prime minister and head of Macron’s centrists, told France Info radio that France was suffering from an “absolutely distressing spectacle” of instability in which “the government falls every three to six months.” He said “we have to get out of this spiral”, adding there had to be a form of compromise agreed between all the political blocs before a new prime minister was appointed.Gabriel Attal, a former prime minister and head of Macron’s centrists, told France Info radio that France was suffering from an “absolutely distressing spectacle” of instability in which “the government falls every three to six months.” He said “we have to get out of this spiral”, adding there had to be a form of compromise agreed between all the political blocs before a new prime minister was appointed.
Agence France-Presse, citing a source close to Macron, said the president’s personal inclination could be to name a long-serving cabinet minister he trusted from his own centrist grouping, such as the justice minister, Gérald Darmanin, or the defence minister, Sébastien Lecornu, both of whom have backgrounds on the right. “In the end he will stay within his comfort zone,” said an ex-minister.Agence France-Presse, citing a source close to Macron, said the president’s personal inclination could be to name a long-serving cabinet minister he trusted from his own centrist grouping, such as the justice minister, Gérald Darmanin, or the defence minister, Sébastien Lecornu, both of whom have backgrounds on the right. “In the end he will stay within his comfort zone,” said an ex-minister.
Darmanin and Lecornu may be seen as too rightwing to be palatable to the left. Some kind of pact with the Socialist party is seen as a possible way out of the impasse.Darmanin and Lecornu may be seen as too rightwing to be palatable to the left. Some kind of pact with the Socialist party is seen as a possible way out of the impasse.
One option could be a figure who is aligned with the left but not part of the Socialist party and who could also be acceptable to Macron’s centrists, such as Bernard Cazeneuve, a former prime minister and one-time member of the Socialist party.One option could be a figure who is aligned with the left but not part of the Socialist party and who could also be acceptable to Macron’s centrists, such as Bernard Cazeneuve, a former prime minister and one-time member of the Socialist party.
Also seen as a possible contender is the finance minister, Eric Lombard, an ex-banking boss who is also a former Socialist party member.Also seen as a possible contender is the finance minister, Eric Lombard, an ex-banking boss who is also a former Socialist party member.