France is facing the possibility of another government crisis, again over the issue of the state Budget for 2025. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, who lacks a parliamentary majority, announced that the new state budget will be ratified without obtaining the approval of the French National Assembly, an option granted under Article 49.3 of the country’s constitution.

In an interview with a Sunday newspaper, the French prime minister said a country like France cannot remain without a state budget. Following this, it is considered certain that the left-wing party of France Untouchable will table a motion of censure against the French government, which the Communist Party and the Ecologist Party, which are working with France Untouchable as part of the New People’s Front of the French left, have said they will vote for.

However, the position of the Socialist Party – the fourth partner in the New Popular Front – remains unclear, as does the National Coalition, without whose votes the impeachment motion cannot be adopted. The French socialists, who in recent weeks had entered into negotiations with the government to reach an agreement on the state budget, believe that this was not possible because of the inflexibility of Francois Bayrou, who they also blame for promoting “far-right” views on the immigration issue. However, personalities from the French socialist world, such as former President Francois Hollande and former Prime Minister Lionel Jospin have spoken out against the proposal for impeachment.