Unless Bayrou can change their minds, his chances of survival are low. The finance minister said there was room for negotiation but he was very firm on cutting the budget by €44bn.
Bayrou’s budget plans also include cutting two of France’s national holidays, so there may be some scope for the government to move on that.
Ministerial colleagues, who were given little notice on Monday of Bayrou’s decision to call a vote of confidence on 8 September, praised his move.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin told French TV on Tuesday that the prime minister’s move was “extremely courageous.. and very democratic”.
If the government does collapse, President Macron faces the choice of either leaving Bayrou in place as head of a caretaker government, naming another prime minister or calling new elections.
Bayrou made his announcement after visiting the president during his holiday at Fort Brégançon in the south of France, so Macron was fully briefed on the prime minister’s plans.
Macron himself has refused to resign, and his term is due to continue until 2027, however it was his decision to call snap elections in 2024 that left France with a minority government made up of centrists and right-wing Republicans.