Paris: The French government lost a confidence vote called by Prime Minister Fran§ois Bayrou on Monday, amid widespread discord over planned austerity measures. Bayrou must now submit the government's resignation to President Emmanuel Macron.
According to Ghana News Agency, a total of 364 members of the National Assembly voted against the motion, with 194 voting in favour. The widely expected defeat came as no surprise, as the opposition had signalled its intention not to support Bayrou's minority government over its austerity plans.
Bayrou, in office for less than nine months, had been struggling to push through what he considers to be urgently needed reforms as France faces soaring government debt and levels of public spending that are among the highest in Europe.
Macron is expected to accept Bayrou's resignation but ask him to remain in office until a successor is found.
