The Prime Minister of , Michel Barnier, decided to force the approval of a bill on social security, which is part of the 2025 Budget, without the need for a vote in Parliament, leaving him vulnerable to being ousted from office in a vote of no confidence by far-right and left-wing rivals, local media reported this Monday (2).
After making a last-minute concession to gain the support of the far-right National Rally party for the proposal, Barnier decided to invoke Article 49.3 of the Constitution to approve the bill without a vote, French media reported. This measure is expected to trigger a motion of no confidence that the RN and the left have said they will use to overthrow Barnier’s government.
Before the vote in the National Assembly, the head of RN, Marine Le Pen, .
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“It’s up to the government to accept it or not,” she said, leaving open a small window for further negotiations before measure 49.3 is invoked.
Barnier’s difficulties in passing the 2025 Budget in a deeply divided Parliament threaten to plunge the euro zone’s second-largest economy into its second political crisis in six months, highlighting the instability that has taken hold in capitals across the EU.
Since being formed in September, Barnier’s minority government has relied on the support of the RN for its survival. The budget bill, which seeks to control France’s spiraling public deficit through 60 billion euros in tax increases and spending cuts, could break that tenuous link.
