Appearing on the political program L'Événement, broadcast on France 2 from Aubervilliers, just north of Paris, French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou expressed confidence on Thursday that a

budget could be finalized by mid-February. He also suggested he might invoke special constitutional powers to ensure the budget's passage if faced with obstruction from opposition parties.

Bayrou, recently appointed as prime minister following the resignation of Michel Barnier, who struggled with opposition to his budget policies, emphasized the urgency of addressing France's fiscal challenges.

“I aim to have the budget ready by mid-February,” Bayrou stated during the interview.

Acknowledging the potential for parliamentary gridlock, Bayrou said he would consider employing Article 49.3 of the French Constitution, a clause allowing the government to bypass parliamentary votes, but only as a last resort.

“I won’t use Article 49.3 unless the budget is completely blocked,” he clarified.

Like his predecessor, Bayrou underscored the importance of reducing France's deficit, which currently exceeds the limits imposed by the European Union. His administration faces significant pressure to balance fiscal discipline with maintaining public support.

In addition to his plans for the budget, Bayrou revealed his intent to finalize the composition of his new government by Christmas. He expressed a desire for acting Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau to retain a position in the cabinet, signaling a preference for continuity in key roles during this transitional period. Photo by Rama, Wikimedia commons.