French Prime Minister Michel Barnier used Article 49.3 of the constitution on Monday to force his 2025 social security budget through parliament without a vote. The move, intended to bypass the opposition, has triggered a no-confidence motion that could topple the government.
“It is now up to you... to decide if our country should have a financial law that is responsible, indispensable and useful for our fellow French citizens, or if we are to enter into uncharted territory,” Barnier told lawmakers.
The far-right National Rally (RN) and the left-wing bloc have both announced their intention to vote against the government. The RN, the largest party in the 577-seat National Assembly with more than 140 MPs, said in a post on X: “We will vote no confidence.”
Barnier’s government, formed in September after an inconclusive general election, lacks a majority. If the no-confidence motion succeeds, it would be the first time a French government has fallen since Georges Pompidou’s defeat in 1962 under president Charles de Gaulle.
Mathilde Panot, parliamentary leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, confirmed the left-wing bloc’s support for the motion, saying they aim to “topple Barnier”.
Concessions and criticism
To secure support, Barnier’s office made concessions, including scrapping a proposed cut to prescription drug reimbursements and cancelling an electricity tax hike. However, these changes have failed to appease opposition parties.
RN leader Jordan Bardella said on RTL radio: “The National Rally will trigger a no-confidence vote, except of course if there is a last-minute miracle.”
The RN's Marine Le Pen criticised Barnier’s refusal to engage further with opposition demands. “All Mr Barnier has to do is accept to negotiate,” she said in an interview with newspaper La Tribune.
France's article 49.3 a handy constitutional tool to bypass parliament
Barnier justified invoking Article 49.3 by emphasising the urgency of stabilising France’s public finances. He has promised to cut the public deficit to 5 percent of GDP in 2025 from 6.1 percent this year, with a target of €60 billion in savings.
France narrowly avoided a debt downgrade by S&P last week, with the ratings agency citing political uncertainty but expressing confidence that the country would gradually comply with EU fiscal rules.
Budget Minister Laurent Saint-Martin defended the government’s approach, saying: “To reject this text is to reject a democratic agreement.”
The no-confidence vote could happen as early as Wednesday. If the motion succeeds, Barnier’s government will be forced to resign, plunging France into further political uncertainty.
