In Paris on February 5th, French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou managed to survive an initial no-confidence vote brought by the hard left in parliament. The far-right National Rally (RN) and centre-left Socialists did not support the motion, resulting in only 128 lawmakers voting in favor, falling short of the required 289 votes.
The prime minister faced two no-confidence motions after utilizing special constitutional powers, known as Article 49.3, to push through the 2025 budget without a parliamentary vote. Despite ongoing political instability since President Emmanuel Macron's decision to call a snap election in June, resulting in a hung parliament, Bayrou's government has remained afloat by making concessions to both the left and far-right factions.
Leading up to the votes, both the National Rally and the Socialists indicated they would not support the motions, citing the country's necessity for a budget. However, the Socialists plan to introduce a separate no-confidence motion later regarding Bayrou's recent comments on immigration, a topic that briefly disrupted budget negotiations.
Bayrou defended his stance on immigration, acknowledging concerns among the French population, but emphasizing the urgency of passing the budget. Finance Minister Eric Lombard expressed relief after the failure of the initial no-confidence vote, deeming it a positive outcome for France.
The budget proposal aims to reduce the deficit, increase taxes on major corporations and the affluent, and implement spending cuts.