A commission of Senators and members of the National Assembly have hashed out a compromise 2025 budget that, if passed by the both full assemblies, could avoid the government having to force the bill through without a vote. But far right and leftist lawmakers, who disagree with many of the cost-cutting measures, are calling for a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Barnier.
Barnier's struggles to push the 2025 budget through a polarised parliament have been threatening his fragile coalition government, as opponents on the left and right threaten a vote of no confidence that he is likely to lose.
The austerity budget, which seeks to rein in the public deficit with €60 billion deficit tax hikes and spending cuts, was rejected by the National Assembly before being debated by the Senate.
A commission of seven Senators and seven MPs Wednesday night came up with a compromise version, which will be put to a vote by both chambers.
If it passes, it would mean Barnier would avoid having to resort to using article 49.3 of the constitution that allows for legislation to be passed without a vote – a move that would very likely trigger a no-confidence vote.
Yet the far right National Rally, whose support is key to the government, disapproves of several measures in the compromise bill, including a tax increase on electricity, and a decision to not index pensions to inflation.
The government has been in negotiations with the RN which for weeks has been threatening to vote to bring down the government if their demands are not met.
Some say RN leader Marine Le Pen's embezzlement trial may be influencing her hard line position.
Widely seen as the front-runner in the 2027 presidential election, she faces the possibility of being barred from running after prosecutors called for a five-year ban from public office.
An aide to centrist lawmaker Gabriel Attal, Barnier's predecessor as prime minister, said Le Pen's threats to topple the government were a bid "to eclipse the trial saga."
In a TV interview on Tuesday, Barnier described the current situation as "extremely concerning," predicting "extremely serious and turbulent conditions on financial markets" should his government fall.
Just over half of French people, angry over the proposed budget, want the government to fall, according to a poll published Thursday.
The poll conducted by Ifop-Fiducial for Sud radio showed that 67% opposed the budget,
In an Elabe poll for BFM TV on Wednesday, 63% of those surveyed said President Emmanuel Macron should resign if Barnier's government fell.
(with AFP, Reuters)
