François Bayrou achieved a significant win as the National Assembly approved the state budget, aided by the socialists’ abstention from a censure motion. The government’s fiscal strategy aims to reduce the public deficit to 5.4% of GDP through new revenue sources and spending cuts. Opposition parties criticized the budget’s austerity measures, while Bayrou intends to use article 49.3 to reinforce government responsibility. The Senate is expected to vote on the budget shortly, affirming parliamentary support.
François Bayrou’s Budget Success Amidst Political Tensions
On Wednesday, François Bayrou marked a notable victory as the National Assembly voted on the state budget, largely due to the abstention of the socialists who chose not to support a motion of censure against his government. The motion, put forward by representatives from LFI, communist, and ecologist factions, was backed by only 128 deputies, including six socialists. A total of 289 votes would have been required to topple the government. This outcome paves the way for the National Assembly to approve the state budget for 2025. The Senate is set to cast its vote on Thursday, which is anticipated to affirm Parliament’s endorsement of the budget.
Government’s Fiscal Strategy and Opposition’s Response
Prime Minister Bayrou described the budget as an “emergency step,” outlining future reforms and a focus on measures of “order and authority.” Both the PS and the National Rally groups announced their decision against censure, prioritizing the nation’s stability. However, the ecologists and communists chose to support the motion, aligning themselves with the Insoumis party. The government’s objective for the 2025 budget is to reduce the public deficit to 5.4% of GDP, which will necessitate new revenue sources, including exceptional contributions from affluent households and profits from major corporations, alongside spending cuts.
Following the vote, La France insoumise criticized the Socialist Party for disrupting the New Popular Front and called for a “meeting” with other leftist parties to sustain their alliance against macronism. LFI’s Economic Affairs Committee president, Aurélie Trouvé, denounced the budget as the “most austerity-driven” in recent history, framing it as a “shipwreck of democracy.” In the ensuing debate, PS deputy Emmanuel Grégoire faced interruptions from the Insoumis benches as he defended the party’s stance. He emphasized that the socialists’ abstention should not be misconstrued as support for Bayrou’s policies, pledging a future motion of censure against what they termed the “Trumpization of public debate.” Meanwhile, RN deputy Yoann Gillet criticized the budget for increasing tax pressure, suggesting that true relief would not come from the current opposition but from a potential government dissolution.
Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin committed to closely monitoring the execution of the budget in 2025 to achieve the target deficit and to apply lessons learned from previous fiscal missteps. As the day concluded, François Bayrou was expected to invoke the government’s responsibility again through another 49.3, with additional motions of censure anticipated throughout the budget discussions.