French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Monday ran his 2025 budget plan through parliament without a vote by MPs. He used a special constitutional tool known as Article 49.3 to pass the long-prepared bill.
The move opens the newly appointed government to the risk of a vote of no confidence as early as Wednesday.
The Socialist Party (PS), part of the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition, said Monday afternoon that it had decided not to vote against Bayrou’s government for now. But that didn’t stop the left-wing France Unbowed party (LFI) from threatening a vote of no confidence.
“This illegitimate government must fall,” LFI’s official social media X account said. LFI also said it would propose the resignation of the recently appointed government of François Bayrou.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, LFI leader, wrote on X:
“Bayrou has put the state on short-term labour! With two circulars in December, he voluntarily blocked all state payments. To scare people. But also because the special law already passed renews the 2024 budget, much less brutal than Bayrou’s, for culture, sports, health, education, electricity bills, etc. Censorship! Censorship!”
The right Rassemblement Nationale (RN) party is hesitating for now, telling reporters it will decide on a vote against Bayrou by Wednesday.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, leader of the party Debout la France (France Arise) wrote on X:
“François Bayrou tramples on democracy again! After imposing his budget using the authoritarian principle of 49.3, he is doing it again with the social security system. How far will this contempt for the people go? There is only one possible answer: condemn this illegitimate government!”
The controversial budget plan aims to reduce the country’s soaring public deficit to 5.4 per cent this year from an estimated 6 per cent in 2024. To do this, the Bayrou government intends to cut €30bn and raise taxes by €20bn on the super-profits and income of the richest families.
Budget adoption as a cornerstone of relations with the EU
France is under pressure from the EU over its deficit, which is more than double the threshold authorised by Brussels.
Bayrou’s predecessor Michel Barnier was ousted in December after the right and left joined forces to topple the government. Bayrou was also already facing the threat of resignation, but he steadied himself.
France has been embroiled in a deep political crisis since President Emmanuel Macron abruptly dissolved the National Assembly in June 2024 as his party lost to the far-right in European elections. The snap election ended up splitting the lower house of parliament.
According to the French Constitution, Macron cannot dissolve the National Assembly until the summer of 2025.
