French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou on Monday invoked special constitutional powers to ram through the 2025 budget bill without a parliamentary vote, a move that could trigger a no-confidence motion against his minority government.
Bayrou used Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to bypass lawmakers in the lower house, underlining the need to ensure a working budget. “No country can live without a budget,” he said before imposing the measure.
In return, France’s left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party has immediately voted for a no-confidence vote. This still stands with low prospects as the Socialist Party decided not to vote for the confidence motion.