French parliament rejects censure motion, adopts state budget

ISTANBUL

The French parliament on Wednesday rejected a motion of censure filed by La France Insoumise (LFI) against Prime Minister Francois Bayrou’s government, securing the passage of the 2025 state budget.

The motion garnered only 128 votes in the National Assembly, far below the 288 needed to bring down the government. With its rejection, the state budget is now officially adopted.

The Senate will vote on it on Thursday, and it is expected to pass, finalizing the finance bill.

LFI had submitted the motion after Bayrou invoked Article 49.3 last week to push through the budget without a parliamentary vote. LFI lawmaker Aurelie Trouve accused the government of imposing “the most austere budget of the 21st century.”

However, the motion failed to gain support from key opposition parties, with both the far-right National Rally (RN) and the Socialist Party (PS) refusing to back it.

During the heated debates, Renaissance MP Jean-Rene Cazeneuve slammed LFI’s move as "petty political calculations," asserting that "France rejects your excesses."

PS deputy Emmanuel Gregoire also criticized LFI, warning that the censure motion "weakens the left’s struggles."

On the right, Les Republicains MP Philippe Juvin denounced France’s "budgetary laxity" and urged structural reforms to maintain credibility with European partners.

Defending the government’s stance, Bayrou acknowledged that the budget was "imperfect" but described it as "an emergency step" necessary to keep the country financially stable.

With the budget now moving to the Senate, its final adoption appears imminent, despite opposition discontent.