Marine Le Pen. Photo: Collected

PARIS, Sept 2, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Last ditch talks between the French far right 
and Prime Minister Francois Bayrou did not achieve any breakthrough, its 
leaders said Tuesday, heightening the chances that he will lose a confidence 
vote next week.

Three-time presidential candidate Marine Le Pen and her right-hand-man and 
National Rally (RN) party leader Jordan Bardella urged swift snap legislative 
elections after the vote in parliament on Monday to end a months-long 
standoff over the budget.

"Jordan and I are calling for an extremely rapid dissolution (of 
parliament)," Le Pen said alongside Bardella after one hour of talks with 
Bayrou at his offices in Paris.

Bardella added: "The sooner we return to the polls, the sooner France will 
have a budget."

There was "no miracle" in the meeting which "will not change the National 
Rally's mind," he added.

Analysts expect Bayrou and his government to fall on Monday after just over 
half a year in office, with both the far right and left-wing parties vowing 
to vote against his minority administration.

President Emmanuel Macron will then need to decide if he reappoints Bayrou, 
chooses a new premier who would be the seventh government chief of his 
presidency, or calls snap legislative elections.

He could also resign, as called for by the hard left, but he has repeatedly 
ruled out this course of action.

"The answer is simple: we don't have confidence (in Bayrou)," Le Pen said, 
adding: "the only way for a prime minister to have a slightly longer lifespan 
would be to break with Macronism."