In France, Prime Minister Bayrou's Ouster Deepens Political Paralysis and Fiscal Uncertainty

Following Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's ousting in a no-confidence vote, France's next government will have to navigate a highly divided Parliament to pass a deficit-cutting 2026 budget, either by striking a compromise or bypassing Parliament, which would heighten the risk of mass unrest. French Prime Minister Bayrou resigned on Sept. 9 after losing a confidence vote in the National Assembly the day before, with 364 lawmakers voting against him and 194 in support. President Emmanuel Macron said he would appoint a new prime minister, who will be the third in just over a year, "in the coming days." The new prime minister will be tasked with forming a new government and -- crucially -- forming a working majority in Parliament. Bayrou had himself called the vote in a bid to rally support for his draft 2026 budget, which proposed nearly 44 billion euros ($52 billion) in spending cuts, tax hikes...