Barnier considers 49.3 for 2025 budget

In an interview with Ouest-France on Thursday November 14, French Prime Minister Michel Barnier indicated that he might resort to Article 49.3 of the Constitution to pass the 2025 budget, believing that it “seems difficult to do otherwise”. This statement comes against a tense backdrop in Parliament, where the debate on the finance bill was marked by tensions. Barnier nevertheless insisted that the government had allowed discussions to proceed freely in the Assembly.

A “serious and responsible” budget despite constraints

The Prime Minister defended the need for a “serious and responsible” 2025 budget, criticizing the changes made to the revenue side by parliamentary votes he deemed “unlikely”. He also spoke of unprecedented budgetary challenges: “Never in sixty years has a government had such constraints”, he asserted. Against this backdrop, Barnier pledged to take on board the ideas of all political groups, particularly those in the majority base (Ensemble pour la République, MoDem, Horizons and Droite républicaine), but also to consider the proposals of the Nouveau Front populaire if they do not alter the overall balance of the budget.

60 billion effort to reduce debt

Faced with a rising public deficit, the government is counting on a 60 billion euro reduction in spending compared to 2024. Barnier stresses that this effort is essential to reduce public debt, a significant proportion of which stems from loans taken out by local authorities. “That’s why I’m calling on everyone to take part in this effort,” he declared, emphasizing the importance of this step in preserving the country’s financial equilibrium.

Prime Minister Michel Barnier will detail these measures on Friday November 15 in Angers, at the 93rd Assises des Départements de France conference. In particular, he will announce 5 billion euros in support for local authorities as part of the 2025 budget, demonstrating the government’s determination to reconcile budgetary rigor with support for the regions.