Source: US News & World Report
“French opposition parties on Monday threatened to topple Prime Minister Francois Bayrou’s government with a no-confidence motion after his finance minister said next year’s budget would require billions of euros in savings. A vote on the 2026 budget is not due until the end of this year, but the subject is already testing the staying power of the government of Bayrou, who came to office in December after clashes over the 2025 budget brought down predecessor, Michel Barnier. Finance Minister Eric Lombard said in an interview with BFM TV on Sunday that a plan to lower the budget deficit to 4.6% of economic output in 2026 from 5.4% this year would require savings of 40 billion euros. Bayrou, who has survived other no-confidence votes, is due to make a budget speech on Tuesday, in which he is expected to outline the bruising austerity measures on the horizon.” (04/14/25)