French Government Pushes 2025 Budget Through Without Parliamentary Vote

Prime Minister François Bayrou invokes constitutional article 49.3 to bypass parliamentary approval, triggering opposition-led no-confidence motions.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou used constitutional article 49.3 to approve the 2025 budget without a parliamentary vote, citing the need for fiscal stability.
The budget aims to reduce the deficit from 6% to 5.4% of GDP by implementing €50 billion in savings, including spending cuts and tax increases.
Opposition parties, including La France Insoumise and other left-leaning groups, have filed no-confidence motions, which are scheduled for a vote on Wednesday.
The Socialist Party and far-right Rassemblement National have signaled they will not support the motions, making it unlikely the government will fall.
Key budgetary measures include preserving 4,000 teaching positions, limiting a corporate tax to one year, and reducing migrant healthcare funding by €111 million.