François Bayrou’s brief premiership ended abruptly on Monday when the National Assembly held a vote of no confidence in his minority government, 364 to 194, collapsing the cabinet after just nine months in office. He had staked his survival on the vote, arguing that his controversial plan to reduce the deficit was the only way to confront what he called a life-threatening debt and deficit crisis.

Bayrou’s downfall stemmed from a €44 billion austerity package aimed at cutting public debt, including scrapping two public holidays. Opposition parties from the far left to Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, a nationalist populist party in France often described as far right, united against him, warning the cuts would inflame social tensions. France was already on edge, with a nationwide protest campaign branded Block Everything scheduled for midweek and public-sector strikes looming.

The defeat is a major blow to President Emmanuel Macron, leaving him searching for his third prime minister in a year and his fifth since beginning his second term. Bayrou, 74, is expected to resign today. The Élysée, the French presidential palace and seat of executive power, has said a replacement will be named within days, with an urgent need to craft a 2026 budget that can survive the Assembly.