French Senate Passes 2025 State Budget Amid Political Uncertainty

French Senate Passes 2025 State Budget Amid Political Uncertainty

Paris, The Gulf Observer: French Senate has approved the 2025 state budget bill with a vote of 217 in favor and 105 against, offering a temporary boost to Prime Minister François Bayrou’s government. However, critical negotiations between the Senate and National Assembly are set to begin next week to resolve differences in the bill’s provisions.

A joint committee of seven senators and seven deputies will convene on January 30 to reconcile the versions of the bill passed by the two chambers, Le Parisien reported on Thursday. The outcome of these negotiations is crucial, as the government must finalize the budget by February to avoid further economic disruption.

“This is an extremely difficult and demanding process, but it is absolutely necessary. A France without a budget is a France at a standstill, deepening its deficit,” government spokesperson Sophie Primas said, emphasizing the urgency of reaching a compromise.

The government faces significant hurdles, lacking an absolute majority in the National Assembly and grappling with pressure from the European Union to restore fiscal discipline. Opposition from left-wing parties, including Socialists, Greens, and Communists, remains strong, with all rejecting the budget bill in its current form.

If a compromise is reached, the revised budget will return to the National Assembly in early February for a final vote. However, the government may invoke Article 49.3 of the Constitution to bypass a parliamentary vote, a move that risks triggering a no-confidence motion and intensifying political tensions.

The budget discussions come against the backdrop of ongoing political instability in France. Bayrou’s government, appointed in December after the collapse of Michel Barnier’s cabinet following a no-confidence vote, has faced relentless opposition. The political turmoil began last June when President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist bloc failed to secure a majority in parliamentary elections, leading to months of deadlock.

Bayrou, appointed on December 13, has been under pressure to navigate a fractured legislature while addressing pressing economic challenges. With opposition parties, particularly France Unbowed (LFI), preparing no-confidence motions, the government’s survival remains uncertain as debates over the budget continue.

The ongoing turbulence highlights France’s broader struggle to achieve political stability amid mounting economic and social challenges, leaving the fate of the 2025 state budget hanging in the balance.