In a surprising political shift, the Socialist Party announced they will not support the no-confidence motion filed by their left-wing allies.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou survived Thursday’s no-confidence vote in the National Assembly after Socialist and far-right MPs declined to back the motion. The hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party had initiated the motion following Bayrou’s general policy speech earlier in the week.
Bayrou outlined his government’s roadmap, including potential renegotiations of President Emmanuel Macron’s unpopular 2023 pension reforms and significant budget cuts to reduce the national deficit.
In a bid to sway the Socialist Party, Bayrou assured that 4,000 jobs in the public education sector would not be cut. Despite previous threats from the centre-left to oppose his government without further assurances, the Socialists ultimately refrained from voting on the motion.
Tensions Mount in Fractured Left-Wing Alliance
The Socialist Party’s decision sparked outrage among other members of the New Popular Front (NFP), the coalition uniting left-wing parties.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the hard-left France Unbowed party, accused the Socialists on social media of “breaking apart the NFP.”
While far-right MPs criticized aspects of Bayrou’s policy proposals, far-right National Rally MP Jean-Philippe Tanguy stated the party would assess the government’s performance based on concrete “actions.”
Bayrou’s political survival offers his government temporary relief, but challenges loom as France remains without a finalized budget plan for 2025.
Bayrou Faces Mounting Pressure Amid Budget Crisis
Bayrou’s position remains fragile, especially given the fate of his predecessor, Michel Barnier. In December, Barnier’s budget proposal led to his ousting after the far-right and the NFP filed a successful no-confidence motion.
Although Bayrou has managed to stave off immediate threats, the coming weeks promise intense political negotiations as he seeks to navigate a divided Assembly and avoid further instability.
With no clear resolution to France’s budgetary challenges, Bayrou must balance coalition demands and economic pressures to maintain his government’s tenuous grip on power.