"Francois Bayrou may have thought it was a smart pre-emptive move to call a parliamentary vote of confidence in his minority government ahead of a planned national protest day on 10 September and the start of a fraught parliamentary budget season. Determined not to meet the same fate as his predecessor who was toppled by parliament last December, the French prime minister appears to have chosen political hara-kiri instead."
"France's Fifth Republic constitution, framed by Gen Charles de Gaulle in 1958 to create a strong executive and a pliant legislature, has ceased to deliver stable governments. Without a change in the system, France faces extended political paralysis. In the meantime, it seems incapable of resolving a chronic fiscal crisis that is starting to worry financial markets. The finance minister, Eric Lombard, last week declined to rule out having to seek an IMF bailout before abruptly back-pedalling when investors took fright."
Francois Bayrou called a parliamentary vote of confidence in his minority government before a planned national protest and the start of the parliamentary budget season. He aimed to avoid the fate of his predecessor but appears likely to be ejected by a hung parliament, escalating a political deadlock into a crise de regime. France's Fifth Republic constitution no longer produces stable governments. Without systemic change, France faces prolonged political paralysis. The country also struggles to resolve a chronic fiscal crisis that is worrying financial markets. Finance minister Eric Lombard briefly refused to rule out an IMF bailout before backtracking. President Emmanuel Macron faces limited options to restore stability.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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