After a long period of political tension and the minority government overcoming a series of no-confidence motions in parliament, France finally passed this year’s budget.
The government used special constitutional powers to pass the budget without a parliamentary vote, angering the opposition, which submitted successive motions of no confidence, but the government narrowly escaped.
To avoid further problems, the government made some concessions, the most important of which was freezing the controversial plan to amend the retirement system that aimed to raise the retirement age.
The new budget law aims to increase defense spending and gradually reduce the budget deficit.
The roots of this protracted crisis go back to the early June 2024 elections, which resulted in a “hung” parliament divided between various political blocs without any of them obtaining a majority, causing instability and the fall of successive governments within a few months.
The current Prime Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, hopes to remain in office until the end of the president’s current term, although parliamentary deadlock continues to limit the government’s ability to pass new laws.
Currently, President Emmanuel Macron is focusing his efforts mainly on foreign policy, as the country prepares for upcoming elections, while awaiting the outcome of an appeal trial of far-right leader Marine Le Pen on embezzlement charges. (Al Ain)
