Overview

• Prime Minister François Bayrou's controversial comments on immigration, describing it as a 'flooding' of France, have sparked backlash from the Socialist Party and other leftist groups.
• The Socialists suspended their participation in budget negotiations, demanding Bayrou retract his remarks, which they claim echo far-right rhetoric.
• The government is attempting to finalize a 2025 budget that includes €53 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts to address France's growing deficit and restore investor confidence.
• Without Socialist support, Bayrou's minority government faces the risk of a no-confidence vote, which could lead to its collapse if opposition parties unite.
• The Socialists remain divided over whether to back the budget, weighing potential concessions against the risk of fracturing their left-wing coalition.