French Parliament Passes 2025 Budget After Months of Political Turmoil

Prime Minister Bayrou's government survives no-confidence votes, using special constitutional powers to push the budget through.

The French Senate approved the 2025 budget on Thursday, following its earlier passage in the National Assembly through the use of constitutional Article 49.3.
Prime Minister François Bayrou's administration survived no-confidence votes triggered by the budget's forced adoption, with insufficient support from opposition parties to topple the government.
The budget aims to reduce France's public deficit to 5.4% of GDP through €30 billion in spending cuts and €20 billion in tax increases targeting wealthier individuals and corporations.
The political crisis over the budget had previously led to the collapse of Michel Barnier's government in December, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to appoint Bayrou as prime minister.
The 2025 budget now awaits review by the Constitutional Council, with the government planning to use similar measures to pass the social security budget in the coming weeks.