The debate in the national assembly begins at 15 Swedish time. Bayrou seems determined to leave his post.
There are worse things in life than being head of government and the government ... falls, he said late on Sunday in an interview with the media company Brut as reported by Le Monde.
Nine months is not bad. I regret nothing.
Tough savings
François Bayrou leads the country's middle-oriented minority government. He has held the post since December, when his predecessor Michel Barnier was forced out through a vote of no confidence similar to the one to be held on Monday. He was only in the post for three months.
The dissatisfaction with Bayrou is mainly due to the severe savings he has proposed. France is struggling with a gigantic national debt and this summer the prime minister presented a budget proposal with savings of nearly 44 billion euros. He wants to cut back on the public sector, freeze pensions and abolish two public holidays – which has provoked anger among other things from trade unions.
New election?
All opposition parties, from right to left, have condemned the budget proposal. The prime minister has invited the parties to talks, but everything indicates that he will lose today's vote of confidence. Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right party National Assembly, calls the current government a "sinking ship".
What will happen if François Bayrou is voted out is not entirely clear. President Emmanuel Macron can appoint a new prime minister or call a new election.
