The Rassemblement National announced its opposition to the 2025 Finance Bill, labeling it a “red card” for the government and hinting at a potential motion of censure. During various political discussions, RN MPs criticized the government’s lack of dialogue and described the budget process as obstructive. Concerns were raised over the government’s absenteeism in defending proposals, and discussions about potential amendments were noted. The debate resumes on November 5, amid worries of possible rejection in the Assembly.
The Rassemblement National Issues a “Red Card” to the Government
On Sunday, the Rassemblement National (RN) declared its intention to oppose the 2025 Finance Bill, accusing the government of failing to engage in meaningful dialogue. During appearances on various political programs, RN members Jean-Philippe Tanguy, Sébastien Chenu, and Thomas Ménagé offered a critical review of the recent six-day debate focused on the revenue aspects of the budget. Tanguy, who leads the RN group on financial matters, stated, “We will vote against” the budget, clarifying the party’s stance after previous uncertainty about whether they would vote against or abstain.
The disappointment was palpable as the Somme MP criticized Prime Minister Michel Barnier for not fulfilling his commitment to interact with opposition parties. “There has been no gesture from the government,” Chenu emphasized, warning that the government is setting the stage for a motion of censure. He highlighted the six-month delay in pension indexation as a significant point of contention for the RN, referring to it as a “red line.”
A Critique of Political Duplicity
While participating in Questions politiques on France Inter, Ménagé accused Barnier of duplicity, suggesting he had not lived up to the promise of collaboration with opposition parties. The parliamentary trio lamented what they perceived as the government’s obstructionism, specifically noting that the majority had submitted 45% of the amendments to the finance bill’s initial part. Tanguy called it “sabotage” and expressed concern regarding Barnier’s potential application of article 47 of the Constitution, which allows the government to sidestep parliamentary decisions if the Assembly does not approve a finance bill within 40 days.
“Beneath his seemingly calm exterior lies a Machiavellian personality,” Tanguy asserted, further expressing skepticism about the government’s priorities.
Concerns Over Absenteeism and Budget Size
Another significant issue raised by the RN was the apparent absenteeism of majority MPs. Chenu asserted, “Their voters need to know that these MPs aren’t showing up to defend their proposals, ultimately allowing the far left and France Insoumise to manipulate this budget” with increased taxes. This sentiment was unexpectedly echoed by François Bayrou, the MoDem president, who criticized parliamentarians for neglecting their duty in the National Assembly.
Roland Lescure from EPR (formerly Renaissance) attempted to justify this absenteeism, noting that the diverse coalition opposition makes full mobilization challenging. He described the budget as having reached a “pantagruelian size” due to the rising taxes, indicating that voting in favor is becoming increasingly difficult for the majority.
A Budget Compatible with NFP
In an interview with Parisien, Budget Minister Laurent Saint-Martin stated that recent amendments associated with the NFP amounted to over 40 billion euros in tax increases. He expressed hope that the parliamentary shuttle process would be able to fine-tune these figures, aiming to avoid a “Frankenstein text” filled with excessive tax increases.
In contrast, Eric Coquerel, chairman of the Finance Committee and an Insoumis member, praised the budget as “NFP-compatible,” claiming that it includes 35 billion euros in additional revenues from amendments proposed or backed by the New Popular Front.
If the budget is ultimately rejected, it will be forwarded to the Senate for further consideration, leading to a joint committee meeting of deputies and senators to reconcile the two chambers’ versions. Given the lack of a parliamentary majority, the government may need to resort to the 49.3 procedure for a final vote.
Debates on the initial part of the budget will continue on Tuesday, November 5, at the Palais Bourbon. Before that, MPs will evaluate the Social Security budget, which carries similar risks of incompletion or rejection.