French President Emmanuel Macron has endorsed Prime Minister François Bayrou as his preferred successor for the 2027 presidential election, sources close to the Élysée Palace confirmed. The move comes as Bayrou faces a confidence vote next month that could topple his minority government.
Bayrou, 74, a centrist and close ally of Macron, announced he would 'fight like a dog' to stay in power after calling a vote of confidence for 8 September. However, opposition parties on the far right and left have indicated they will vote to eject him, making his defeat almost certain.
The political turmoil has spooked investors, with the Paris stock market falling and French borrowing costs rising. A protest movement against Bayrou's austerity budget, which includes €44bn in cuts, is planned for 10 September regardless of the vote's outcome.
If Bayrou is ousted, Macron would be forced to appoint a new prime minister, but any successor could also face a no-confidence vote. Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally is pushing for a snap election, though Macron has ruled this out for now. The left-wing alliance, which holds the most seats in parliament, is demanding a prime minister from their ranks.
Bayrou's budget plan, which includes scrapping two public holidays and freezing welfare spending, has been widely criticized as unfair to the poor and pensioners. In a last-minute appeal to the left, he offered to demand more from the wealthy, but it may not be enough to save his government.
