Politics France's parliament adopts controversial austerity budget
After months of dispute, France's parliament has finally passed the overdue budget for the current year. A majority of 219 to 107 senators voted in favor of the bill in the upper house.
06.02.2025, 14:09
SDA
The center-right government wants to reduce the national deficit with its budget plan - among other things through lower spending. It had set itself the target of reducing the deficit from around 6.1 percent last year to 5.4 percent of economic output this year. By 2029, it should be back below the European limit of three percent. The EU Commission has initiated deficit proceedings against France for excessive new borrowing.
Tearing test for Prime Minister Bayrou
France's previous minority government under Michel Barnier was toppled in December by the left-wing and right-wing nationalist opposition in a dispute over the social budget. The budget negotiations were also a test for Prime Minister François Bayrou. He ultimately pushed the budget through the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, without a final vote.
After numerous talks with the government, the Socialists supported Bayrou in two votes of no confidence on Wednesday. The right-wing nationalist MPs around Marine Le Pen also did not oppose the government despite criticizing the budget.
