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France’s PM faces confidence vote with second attempt to force through budget France’s PM faces confidence vote after forcing through budget
(about 1 hour later)
Decision to use executive measure known as ‘49.3’ was also taken in December, toppling the previous governmentDecision to use executive measure known as ‘49.3’ was also taken in December, toppling the previous government
The French prime minister, François Bayrou, is preparing to ignore threats of a no-confidence motion and force the 2025 budget bill through without a vote. France’s prime minister will face a vote of no confidence after he pushed through the country’s budget bill without a vote in the Assemblée Nationale.
With no majority in the Assemblée Nationale, the centrist politician has little choice but to use the constitutional measure, known as the “49.3”, on Monday to pass the legislation aimed at reducing the country’s soaring deficit. The hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) said on Monday it was lodging two motions of no confidence in the government after François Bayrou used a constitutional measure known as the “49.3” to force through the legislation without a parliamentary debate.
The hard-left France Unbowed (La France Insoumise or LFI) has said it will lodge a confidence vote immediately afterwards, a move supported by the country’s ecology party (EELV) and Communist party (PCF) but not by the Parti Socialiste (PS). However, the Socialist party (PS) said it would not support any motion that would bring down a second government in less than two months, meaning the move was unlikely to plunge France back into political uncertainty.
The far-right National Rally party (RN) is yet to announce whether or not it will throw its weight behind the move. Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) has not said whether it would back such a vote. MPs will vote on the confidence motions on Wednesday.
LFI and the RN lodged censure motions in December after the then prime minister, Michel Barnier, used the 49.3 to try to push through the 2025 budget bill, forcing his resignation and the collapse of the government after less than three months. Speaking on Monday as he moved to force through the budget and social security bills, Bayrou told the lower house of parliament: “This is the hour of truth. This is the week of truth and responsibility. No country can survive without a budget and France less than others … Is this budget perfect? No. Nobody finds it perfect. It is a balance. We are faced with our duty and the decision is in your hands.”
Bayrou, who was appointed shortly afterwards, presented his budget bill and the social security bill to the lower house on Monday afternoon after the text was approved by a cross-party committee last week. But Éric Coquerel, an LFI deputy and president of the finance commission, told the house: “This budget is worse than that proposed by Michel Barnier.”
If Bayrou uses the 49.3 to push through the bill, opponents have 24 hours to lodge a censure motion that must be voted on within 48 hours. If it succeeds, the bills are rejected, the government collapses and France returns to a political impasse. With no majority in the Assemblée Nationale, Bayrou, a centrist, had little choice but to force through the legislation aimed at reducing the country’s soaring deficit. In doing so he risked facing the same end as his predecessor, Barnier, who used the 49.3 to try to push through the 2025 budget bill, prompting censure motions from the LFI and the RN. He ended up resigning amid the collapse of the government after less than three months.
The current deadlock was caused by the decision off the president, Emmanuel Macron, to dissolve parliament and hold a snap general election in June after his governing centrist party was defeated in European elections. The current deadlock was caused by the decision of the president, Emmanuel Macron, to dissolve parliament and hold a snap general election in June after his governing centrist party was defeated in European elections.
In the subsequent general election, the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP), a coalition of left-wing parties including the PS, LFI, PCF and EELV, won the highest number of seats. In the subsequent general election, the New Popular Front (NFP), a coalition of leftwing parties including the PS, LFI, Communists and the Greens, won the highest number of seats.
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The result left the lower house of parliament divided into three roughly equal blocs – left, centre and far right – none of which has an absolute majority. A new legislative election cannot be held until June.The result left the lower house of parliament divided into three roughly equal blocs – left, centre and far right – none of which has an absolute majority. A new legislative election cannot be held until June.
On Monday, the governor of the Bank of France, François Villeroy de Galhau, told FranceInfo radio that adopting the budget bill would be “a first step in the right direction” to end economic uncertainty.On Monday, the governor of the Bank of France, François Villeroy de Galhau, told FranceInfo radio that adopting the budget bill would be “a first step in the right direction” to end economic uncertainty.
“To begin to reduce that uncertainty, France needs a budget … one that reduces the deficit,” Villeroy de Galhau said adding that the priority was to get a grip on public spending. “To begin to reduce that uncertainty, France needs a budget … one that reduces the deficit,” Villeroy de Galhau said, adding that the priority was to get a grip on public spending.
If the budget bill is passed, it will come into effect in the second half of the month.