French PM once again sidesteps parliamentary debate to pass budget

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has invoked article 49.3 of the Constitution to pass the first part of the government’s 2024 budget. The move skips debate in the National Assembly, where lawmakers had introduced hundreds of amendments. This is the first time she has used 49.3 since it was used to pass the controversial pension reform in March, and the 13th time she has used it in her tenure as prime minister.

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne at the National Assembly, on 10 October 2023. © Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters

Borne said she was taking responsibility for getting a budget passed in the face of a parliament where the government does not have a majority.

“Today the assessment is clear: no opposition group is ready to vote for this budget. And yet, our country needs this first part of the bill,” Borne argued in favour of the legislation that she says includes 16 billion euros in savings and investments in the ecological transition.

Opposition parties had introduced some 5,000 amendments, which will now not be considered.

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By using article 49.3, she will face no confidence motions from the far right National Rally and the hard left France Unbowed parties that have both denounced the lack of debate.

“This budget does not address the purchasing power crisis that has affected our fellow citizens for months, it does not propose any structural savings,” wrote the National Rally in its motion, also highlighting the lack of reform in migration policy. “It does not at all address the challenges of our country.”

But it is unlikely for the motions to succeed without support from the conservative Republicains, which have not backed them.

Last year, Borne had allowed parliament to debate a week on the budget before resorting to article 49.3.

The National Assembly’s finance committee, which rejected the first part of the budget after hours of debate, will now examine the spending part of the budget starting on 24 October, which will be then be put to a vote to the whole parliament.

(with AFP and Reuters)