Why it matters: The ousting of Prime Minister François Bayrou after just nine months plunges France into a deeper political crisis.
The collapse puts immense pressure on President Emmanuel Macron to solve a budget deadlock that has rattled investors.
"You have the power to topple the government, but you don't have the power to erase reality."
By the numbers: The confidence motion was defeated 364 to 194 in the national assembly.
💰 The plan: Bayrou was pushing a €44bn package of tax hikes and spending cuts.
📉 The goal: His plan aimed to cut France's deficit from 5.4% of GDP to 4.6% next year.
The debt: France has Europe's third-highest debt burden at 114% of national output, trailing only Greece and Italy.
"Dissolving parliament is not just an option, it's an obligation... Without a snap election, Macron is blocking the country."
🏛️ Historical precedent: This is a rare political upheaval for the country.
A prime minister being toppled by parliament has only happened three times since the 1958 start of France's fifth republic.
This is the direct fallout from Macron's decision to call snap elections last year, which resulted in a hung parliament.
Bayrou's predecessor, Michel Barnier, lasted only three months before being ousted in a similar budget battle last December.
"We are ready. Let him come and find us."
What's next: Macron faces a dwindling set of choices to escape the crisis.
He will try to find a new prime minister who can survive long enough to pass a budget by the year-end deadline.
The last resort: If another government fails, he may be forced to call early elections, a move people close to him say he wants to avoid.