French President Emmanuel Macron vowed on Friday, August 29, to serve out his term despite a political crisis over budget policies that will be tested on September 8, when a confidence vote could topple his prime minister. Macron has given his "full support" to French Prime Minister François Bayrou after his decision to call the confidence vote fuelled fears that France risks a new period of prolonged political and financial instability.
Bayrou's move has also raised questions for Macron, who has less than two years remaining in his mandate, with the hard left calling on the president to resign – something he has always rejected. "The mandate entrusted to me by the French people... will be served out until its end, in line with the commitment I made to them," Macron told a press conference, as he hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Macron said Bayrou was not facing "an insurmountable challenge" and called on political players to find "ways to agree" on his proposed budget. Bayrou, 74, wants to save about €44 billion ($51 billion), but his proposal to scrap two public holidays and place a freeze on spending increases has angered many in France.
Should Bayrou lose the September 8 vote, he must resign along with his entire government. Macron could either reappoint him, select a new figure who would be the head of state's seventh premier since taking office in 2017, or call early elections to break that political deadlock that has now dogged France for over a year.