French President Emmanuel Macron sees for less than a year in his government collapsing, in a France immersed in the whirlwind of political paralysis and with public finances bleeding.

French Prime Minister François Bairou lost his vote of confidence in the National Assembly, ending his term after just nine months.

The 74 -year -old Bairou was the fourth prime minister within two years under President Emmanuel Macron, whose second term has been overshadowed by political instability.

The outgoing minority government had suggested cuts of 44 billion euros to tackle France’s exploding public debt.

Here are some of the reasons that led to this new political crisis, but also with the choices of the French president.

How did France lead to crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron took a risk in June 2024.

After his party’s heavy defeat in the European elections, he announced early parliamentary elections hoping that he would achieve a clear majority.

Instead, there was a fragmented parliament that makes it difficult for every prime minister to gather the necessary support for the passage of laws and budgets.

Macron appointed Michel Barnier in September, but within three months the man who negotiated the Brexit for the EU left, marking the shortest term in the history of the fifth French Republic.

François Bairou had the same fate, remaining in the prime minister less than nine months after taking up his duties in December. On Tuesday he will officially resign.

Some parties – especially the far right and the far left – continue to push for early presidential elections.

Macron, however, has made it clear that he is not going to resign before his term in 2027.

Instead, he is called upon to choose between the appointment of a fifth prime minister in less than two years – facing the same opposition or the announcement of new parliamentary elections at the risk of an even more hostile national assembly.

The president’s choices are limited, and the consequences of the June 2024 risk are still plaguing the country.

Bairo’s central issue was the debt crisis of France and, as he said, the need for drastic spending cuts to avoid a disaster for future generations.

Why France is in debt crisis

Simply put, the French government spends more than decades than it has been collecting. As a result, he is forced to borrow to cover budget deficits.

According to official figures, public debt amounted to 3,345 trillion in early 2025. euro, or at 114% of GDP. This is the third highest rate of debt in the euro area after Greece and Italy, an amount corresponding to nearly 50,000 euros for each French citizen.

Last year’s deficit stood at 5.8% of GDP and is expected to reach 5.4% this year. This means that public debt will continue to grow as France borrows to cover the deficit.

Like many developed countries, France also faces the demographic burden of aging population: fewer tax -taxed workers and more retirees receiving state pension.

François Bairou belongs to politicians who demand a drastic reduction in the deficit by restructuring generous social programs such as pensions. In his speech to Parliament on Monday, he talked about a “mechanical support” country, addicted to expenses.

Two years ago, France had increased the retirement age from 62 to 64 years for those born in 1968 or later. Bairou has warned that the notion that French workers can stop work in the early 1960s is now outdated.

However, the reaction to new cuts remains intense. The government of Bairo’s predecessor had collapsed last December after a vote of confidence concerning the same issue.

For its part, the Left calls for tax increase instead of spending cuts.

The choices that Macron has in front of him

France is probably entering yet another period of uncertainty, stagnation and visuals.

Emmanuel Macron has announced that he will appoint a new prime minister in the coming days. The decision to move quickly to appoint a new prime minister is clearly in the interest of the country, but the previous experience has shown that this process can prove to be time -consuming.

Macron must find a person acceptable enough, so as not to be overthrown by the opposition immediately. The first two prime ministers appointed to this fragmented parliament – Barnier and Bayrou – took weeks to be selected. The search for the third is expected even more difficult.

Meanwhile, Bairou is expected to remain as a service prime minister.

Pressure is exerted by some aspects, mainly by Marin Lepen’s national alarm, for a new dismantling of the National Assembly and early elections.

Other voices, however, believe that a new showdown would be a waste of time, as it would hardly change today’s balance.

In the meantime, appeals from the far left are also heard of the resignation of Macron himself, a scenario that is considered extremely unlikely.

Who can succeed Bairou

It will be pressured by Macron to appoint a successor from the left. The last two prime ministers came from the right and center, while the left alliance was first in the 2024 elections.

One possibility is Olivier Frey, head of the 57 -year -old Socialist Party with a parliamentary group of 66 MPs.

Other options from the Left are former Prime Minister Bernard Kaznev and former minister Pierre Moscovici, who is currently leading the Court of Auditors.

If Macron decides to stay in the center and on the right, the first name is being promoted is that of Sebastian Lekorni, 39, current defense minister, a close associate of the president and a member of the Renaissance party.

Another conservative choice is that of Katrin Votran’s Minister of Labor and Health.

There are also two more names from the government in the race: Interior Minister Bruno Retagio, now leading the Republicans, and Justice Minister Gerald Darmann.

However, with a look at the 2027 presidential election, it remains doubtful whether powerful party executives will want to take on the “political death” that many believe in the position of the next prime minister of Macron.