The French parliament decides the fate of the government today after the opposition agreed to oust Borne.

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Special

Arab Gulf - Follow-ups: Francois Bayrou, France's fourth prime minister in three years, is facing a near-certain defeat in a vote of confidence on Monday, clouding the political situation in the Eurozone's second-largest economy. The collapse of the government appears likely to exacerbate the paralysis gripping France at a critical time for Europe, which is seeking unity in the face of Russia's war against Ukraine, the growing influence of China, and trade tensions with the United States. The turmoil also threatens France's ability to curb its debt, with the potential for further credit rating downgrades as bond yield spreads widen, an indicator of the risk premium investors demand to hold French debt, according to Reuters. France is facing intense pressure to reform its finances, with last year's budget deficit twice the European Union's maximum deficit-to-economic output ratio of three percent, and public debt at 113.9 percent of GDP. Despite a flurry of talks and media appearances since his August 25 decision to hold a vote of confidence amid heated debates over the draft budget law, Bayrou appeared to have failed to secure a majority of votes by the start of the week. Opposition leaders from across the political spectrum have said they will vote to remove Bayrou. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a prominent leader of the hard-left France Unbowed party, said, "The government will fall," echoing similar statements from others on the left and right. Macron has so far ruled out dissolving parliament, as he did last year. France has been plunged into a political crisis since Macron called early elections in 2024, which resulted in a parliament without a clear majority. Discontent has worsened with his alliance, which lost its majority in 2022, while the far-right, anti-immigration National Rally party has taken center stage. A broad coalition of left-wing parties, now deeply divided, emerged as the largest bloc. Neither camp has a majority. Marine Le Pen, head of the National Rally bloc in parliament, said on Sunday, "President Emmanuel Macron and all those who served him sparked and fueled this crisis, and today France is the sick man of Europe because of them." After the fall of a conservative and centrist prime minister, most observers expect Macron to look for a candidate from the ranks of the center-left Socialists. Marine Tondelier, head of the Green Party, told BFM TV on Saturday, "He cannot oppose the results of the elections for the third time." Any such candidate would need to form a delicate alliance with the president's liberal bloc, which opposes many of the left's ideas, including raising taxes on the wealthy to fill the country's financial gaps. They would also have to convince the center-right to tolerate another minority government. Like many in France, Mohammed, 80, who sells products in a market in Paris, does not believe politicians will find a way out. He said, "Come back in ten days and you will find that nothing has changed. There will be no majority, and there will be no budget."