French politician Bayrou endorses 2025 budget without a vote, prompting a motion of censure against him.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou in a Tight Spot with 2025 Budget
Paris, Feb 3 (EFECOM) - French Prime Minister François Bayrou, a centrist, kick-started the adoption process of the 2025 Budget Bill on Monday without a vote, exposing himself to a motion of censure led by the left, set to be voted on next Wednesday.
Two months into his job, Bayrou finds himself in a similar predicament as his predecessor, conservative Michel Barnier, with his fate hanging in the hands of socialists and the far right in a National Assembly where he doesn't have a majority.
"No country can survive without a budget, and France especially so. For the first time in almost 70 years, our country doesn’t have a budget in February. The image of France, a great democracy and a pillar of the EU, will be tarnished," the Prime Minister warned in the National Assembly.
He added, "public action will also be affected"; as "hiring and investments will come to a halt," while also mentioning that the Budget will allow the public deficit to be reduced to 5.4%, in a scenario of a 0.9% improvement in GDP and an inflation rate of 1.4%.
Bayrou assured, "no budget is perfect," but he highlighted, "it has been negotiated with all groups and a balanced budget has been reached," so he requested approval "as a sign of responsibility and stability for citizens."
The budget accounts will be approved unless the motion of censure presented by the left progresses.
The Socialist Party's leadership decided not to support the motion of censure, but some of their 66 deputies have made it known that they will break the voting discipline, making the result uncertain.
The far right, on the other hand, will announce their decision on the same Wednesday, after Marine Le Pen meets with her deputies just before the motion of censure is examined. Their 140 parliamentarians could be key if the number of socialist deserters is high.
The PS's decision marks the dissolution of the left-wing electoral alliance that seated the largest parliamentary group, 192 deputies grouped in the so-called New Popular Front, in the National Assembly.
Criticism of those who were formerly their allies has been harsh, with LFI (La France Insoumise) of Jean-Luc Mélenchon being the most critical. The parliamentary leader of that formation accused them of aligning with Bayrou's Government, stating that they consider their association with the Executive "a done deal."
Its 71 deputies, along with the 38 ecologists and the 17 communists, are now in a more vulnerable position to bring down the Executive, in a National Assembly that now has 576 members.
The proposed budget cuts and the lack of concessions on hot-button issues from the left, such as healthcare, education, ecology, and purchasing power, have been met with harsh critique from the opposition.
However, the Prime Minister is also contemplating holding a national referendum on certain policies, including budget plans and electoral reform, in order to engage the public directly on contentious issues, such as pension reform and changing the voting system to proportional representation.
He has suggested that France needs "a Trump-like push" to address its financial challenges and move forward[1]. Furthermore, he has shown flexibility by agreeing to negotiations with labor unions and implementing a flexible retirement system, while also ruling out an immediate reduction in the retirement age due to financial constraints[4].
[1] French Prime Minister: Referendum and electoral reform are needed to address France's financial challenges. (source: Le Monde)[2] French Prime Minister warns opposition to be prepared for a national referendum on budget plans and electoral reform. (source: Ouest-France)[3] French government plans to reduce 2026 budget by €40 billion through spending cuts. (source: Le Figaro)[4] French Prime Minister rules out immediate reduction in retirement age as a solution to France's financial challenges. (source: Le Point)
Additional Reading:
- Government Spending Cuts: A Necessary Evil or a Burden on the People? With France facing significant financial challenges, the proposed spending cuts in the 2025 budget bill could lead to a reduction in public services or increased taxation for citizens. Proponents argue that these cuts are necessary to bring down France's high deficit and stabilize the economy, while critics claim that they disproportionately affect vulnerable populations.
- Electoral Reform: A Boon or a Bane for French Democracy? The electoral reform proposals put forth by the French government, including attempts to shift towards proportional representation, have sparked both support and opposition. Supporters argue that the current system unfairly benefits large parties at the expense of smaller ones and stifles voter representation, while critics contend that the proposed changes would lead to instability and unworkable coalitions.
- Pension Reform: A Controversial Approach to France's Financial Crisis The French government is exploring proposals to reform the pension system to address its long-term financial challenges, such as increasing the retirement age or moving towards a more flexible retirement system. While some see these reforms as a necessary step to ensure the sustainability of the pension system, others argue that they disproportionately affect the working class and risk creating social unrest.
- The French Prime Minister, François Bayrou, is considering holding a national referendum on policy-and-legislation issues, including budget plans and electoral reform, in an attempt to engage the public directly on contentious issues such as pension reform and changing the voting system to proportional representation.
- In the National Assembly, the budget accounts will be approved unless a motion of censure presented by the left progresses, but the fate of the French Prime Minister's proposed spending cuts, which have sparked criticism for their potential impact on vulnerable populations, remains uncertain due to the dissolution of the left-wing electoral alliance and the potentially oppositional stances of the Socialist Party and far right.
