As Bayrou faces the chop, here's a guide to France's last 10 prime ministers

France's fourth prime minister in less than two years, François Bayrou, faces defeat in a confidence vote on Monday, tipping the euro zone's second-biggest economy further into political and economic paralysis.

The minority government's expected collapse looks set to deepen France's problems at a critical time for Europe.

Could France be heading for another changing of the guard at Matignon? Here's a look at the last 10 PMs, what they did, and why they left.

François Bayrou (Dec 13, 2024–present)

A veteran centrist and MoDem chief, Bayrou was brought in to manage a hung parliament - meaning no single party holds a majority - and stabilize Macron's second term. 

He is now struggling to pass a roughly €44 billion ($51.5 billion) fiscal consolidation plan and is widely expected to lose the confidence vote.

Michel Barnier (Sep 5–Dec 4, 2024)

The former EU Brexit negotiator was appointed amid post-election gridlock, but his minority government relied on Article 49.3 of the Constitution.

It is a mechanism that lets the government adopt a bill without a vote unless the National Assembly brings it down with a no-confidence motion. He was toppled after just 91 days.

Gabriel Attal (Jan 9–Sep 5, 2024)

At 34, Attal became modern France's youngest PM and tried a pragmatic reset after the pension-reform turmoil.

He resigned after the snap-election stalemate and stayed on in a caretaker role until Barnier took over.

Élisabeth Borne (May 16, 2022–Jan 9, 2024)

Borne drove through the pension reform raising the legal retirement age to 64, repeatedly invoking Article 49.3 (see above) amid months of mass protests. 

She stepped down as President Emmanuel Macron sought a political reset ahead of 2024's elections.

Jean Castex (Jul 3, 2020–May 16, 2022)

Nicknamed Monsieur Déconfinement - literally 'Mr De-lockdown' (a reference to his job planning France's phased exit from COVID restrictions in 2020) - Castex was appointed to steer the country through reopening and subsequent waves. 

His tenure focused on pandemic management, targeted restrictions and vaccination logistics.

Édouard Philippe (May 15, 2017–Jul 3, 2020)

Philippe led Macron's early labor-market overhaul via executive decrees, then confronted the gilets jaunes (yellow jacket) revolt that forced the government to drop planned fuel-tax hikes. 

He left after municipal elections, making way for a reshuffle.

Bernard Cazeneuve (Dec 6, 2016–May 15, 2017)

François Hollande's interior minister became caretaker PM for the final months of the presidency, overseeing security policy and an extended state of emergency ahead of the 2017 elections. 

He served until Macron's inauguration.

Manuel Valls (Mar 31, 2014–Dec 6, 2016)

Valls pushed the controversial El Khomri labor law and used Article 49.3 to overcome party rebellions and street protests. 

He resigned to launch a bid for the Socialist presidential nomination.

Jean-Marc Ayrault (May 15, 2012–Mar 31, 2014)

Hollande's first PM pursued a moderate social-democratic agenda but struggled with slow growth and party tensions. 

He resigned after heavy municipal election losses in March 2014.

François Fillon (May 17, 2007–May 15, 2012)

Nicolas Sarkozy's long-serving PM passed the 2010 pension reform, lifting the retirement age to 62 and sparking huge strikes and refinery blockades. 

The law became one of the signature – and most contested – measures of his government.