"French finance minister warns budget deal essential if prime minister is removed"

Éric Lombard, France's finance minister, stated that the government may need to adjust its plans to reduce the budget deficit if Prime Minister François Bayrou loses an upcoming confidence vote.

Lombard mentioned in an interview that if the government collapses, new negotiations would be necessary, requiring compromises with left-leaning factions to scale back fiscal adjustments.

Although opposition parties have pledged to vote against Bayrou on Monday, leading to his likely removal, Lombard expressed hope that the prime minister would retain support. He remained confident that either Bayrou or a successor could still approve a budget before the year-end deadline.

Dismissing fears of a looming debt crisis, Lombard said, “We will manage the deficits.”

Bayrou has intensified discussions with party leaders in a final attempt to rally backing, shortly before facing a no-confidence motion spurred by his contentious budget cuts and debt control policies.

Ahead of the 8 September vote, which he himself called, Bayrou vowed to resist fiercely, declaring that France’s future was at stake.

Opposition groups, however, insisted this week that his efforts were too late, predicting no backing for his fiscal measures and an inevitable government collapse, plunging France into political instability.

Bayrou, a centrist and key ally of President Emmanuel Macron, argued that securing support for his proposed €44bn austerity plan—which involves eliminating two public holidays and halting most welfare spending—was critical. He warned that without these steps, France would remain burdened by excessive debt.

The Communist Party, the first to meet with Bayrou on Monday, ruled out any chance of his survival. “This government is going to fall,” said Communist lawmaker Stéphane Peu.

Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally, after talks with Bayrou, stated that no breakthrough had been made and her party would oppose him, calling him “detached from reality and reckless.” National Rally president Jordan Bardella described the administration as a “sinking ship.”

The Socialist Party said it would meet Bayrou only to formally part ways, while other left-wing groups—including the Greens and La France Insoumise—declined outright, calling further discussions futile.

Yaël Braun-Pivet, parliamentary leader and a prominent figure in Macron’s centrist bloc, noted that greater dialogue with opposition parties during the summer might have been beneficial.

She urged Bayrou to withdraw his proposal to cancel two public holidays but reaffirmed her confidence in him. If the government falls, she suggested cross-party negotiations to forge a broader agreement on a 2026 budget.

Bayrou's potential departure leaves uncertainty about the next steps. Macron could name a new prime minister, who would likely confront the same political divisions.