France’s 2025 budget is inching toward finalization after tense negotiations between senators and MPs. After two days of back-and-forth in committee, lawmakers settled on a compromise—but the drama isn’t over. Both the anti-globalist Rassemblement National (RN) and the Socialist Party (PS) are keeping their cards close, waiting until Monday’s plenary session to decide on a possible no-confidence vote.
A Government in Disarray
France’s political class is in a full-blown fever. Alliances shift by the hour, and backroom deals are the order of the day. Just days ago, Socialists were furious over Prime Minister François Bayrou’s remarks about “migratory submersion” and considered pulling their support. But, unsurprisingly, left-wing and centrist politicians managed to find common ground when it came to securing their own interests during committee negotiations.
One of the most contentious issues? State medical aid. The final draft keeps spending at 2024 levels, sparking outrage from RN, which has long pushed for drastic reform of this program—one that many see as a massive draw for illegal immigration. The center-right Les Républicains (LR) tried to cut €200 million from the budget but got nowhere. Once again, establishment politicians refuse to address the glaring reality: France cannot afford to fund endless benefits for the world.
Electricity Tariffs: A Disaster in the Making
Then there’s the ticking time bomb of energy prices. RN has drawn a hard line against Article 4 of the finance bill, warning that it cements EU-imposed electricity pricing rules that will drive costs through the roof. MP Jean-Philippe Tanguy didn’t hold back:
“Article 4 continues and worsens the European rules on electricity tariffs. It sets electricity prices for years to come at very high levels, which are completely unsustainable for households and suicidal for businesses.”
For ordinary French citizens and struggling businesses, skyrocketing power bills are already squeezing every euro. Yet, instead of fixing the problem, Bayrou’s government is making it worse—more proof that the EU’s grip on France is stronger than ever.
The Showdown Looms
Neither the far left nor the anti-globalists are satisfied with this so-called compromise. The Socialists claim the budget is even “worse” than Michel Barnier’s proposals. The RN sees nothing in the bill worth supporting. And yet, despite the chaos, Bayrou is expected to ram his budget through under Article 49.3 of the Constitution—bypassing a real vote altogether.
Monday’s plenary session will be the final showdown. The government is banking on public fatigue and a desire for stability to avoid collapse. Polls show less than a quarter of French citizens want Bayrou’s government removed—but let’s be honest, public sentiment can shift in an instant. If this budget passes without addressing the real issues—immigration, energy costs, and economic sovereignty—France’s political reckoning is only a matter of time.
