French PM Bayrou faces no-confidence vote after forcing budget plan through parliament

French Prime Minister François Bayrou forced his 2025 budget plan through parliament without a vote from the MPs on Monday, using a special constitutional tool known as Article 49.3 to pass the long-overdue bill.

The move opens his recently appointed government to the risk of a no-confidence vote as early as Wednesday.

The Socialist Party (PS), part of the left-wing coalition New Popular Front (NFP), said on Monday afternoon that it has chosen not to vote against Bayrou’s government just yet.

However, the hard-left France Unbowed Party (LFI) announced it would be putting forward a no-confidence motion.

“This illegitimate government must fall,” LFI said on its official X account.

The far-right National Rally Party (RN) are still hesitating, telling reporters they will decide whether to vote against Bayrou by Wednesday.

Will Bayrou be ousted next?

The contentious budget plan aims to reduce the country’s skyrocketing public deficit to 5.4% this year from an estimated 6% in 2024.

To achieve this, Bayrou’s government aims to cut an eye-watering €30bn and raise taxes by €20bn on superprofits and the wealthiest households.

France has been under pressure from the EU for its deficit, which is more than double the percentage authorised by Brussels.

Bayrou’s predecessor Michel Barnier was ousted in December after the far right and the NFP joined forces to topple the government.

France has been embroiled in a deep political crisis after French President Emmanuel Macron shockingly dissolved the National Assembly in June 2024 after his party lost to the far-right in the European elections.

However, Macron’s gamble backfired, and the snap elections ended with a bitterly divided lower house of parliament.

According to the French Constitution, Macron cannot dissolve the National Assembly before the summer of 2025.