Shorouk Express
Bayrou conceded that the budget was “imperfect” shortly before the vote. However, he stressed that it was necessary to get something passed to bring stability to France, which has relied on a stopgap spending measure after failing to pass a budget last year. Bayrou added that it was crucial for France to get its finances in order as it faces “advancing tsunamis” including the Ukraine war and the upheaval wrought by U.S. President Donald Trump.
To pass his budget, Bayrou twice on Monday triggered a constitutional clause allowing him to push through legislation without a vote in parliament but then allows lawmakers to bring forward no-confidence motions.
Bayrou’s minority government is backed by a narrow coalition of centrist and conservative lawmakers and does not have enough support to pass a budget without resorting to the maneuver, which is permitted under Article 49.3 of the constitution. To survive a no-confidence motion the government needs at least one major opposition group to abstain.
The centrist prime minister triggered Article 49.3 a third time on Wednesday and is expected to do so once more later in the week to enact the rest of the legislation tied to the 2025 budget. That means he could face more votes of no confidence in the coming days.
Earlier this week, the center-left Socialist Party announced it would not vote on this week’s no-confidence motions, arguing France needed a new budget for 2025. However, the party said it would put forward its own proposal to censure the government in response to the prime minister’s statement from last week that parts of France give the impression they are being “flooded” by immigrants.
While it’s hard to imagine the National Rally supporting a no-confidence motion that opposes anti-immigration rhetoric, someone close to Le Pen, granted anonymity to speak candidly about party strategy, told POLITICO the party would not shy from voting for such a motion if they believe the government should be toppled.
The motion of no confidence that brought down the previous government of Michel Barnier in December passed with the support of the National Rally even though the text of the motion was critical of the far right and its policies.
