The domestic political landscape dominated French media on August 31st, centering on Prime Minister Bayrou's impending confidence vote. Morning polls reaffirmed the far-right Rassemblement National's lead in potential snap elections, intensifying the political climate. A major development was the Socialist Party's leader, Olivier Faure, unequivocally stating their "irrevocable" decision to vote against Bayrou's government. This set the stage for Bayrou's widely covered evening interviews, where he defended his budget plans and accused "political forces" of seeking "chaos." Notably, Bayrou also indicated flexibility, calling his proposals, including public holiday adjustments and extending the work week, "discussable" and "amendable," in what some outlets framed as a "last stand." Concurrently, the annual 'rentrée scolaire' faced disruptions with school postponements in several southern departments due to severe weather.