France Deals Social Security Finance Act Without House Vote...the danger of government collapse

The French government has used a constitutional clause that allows it to legislate immediately after skipping a House vote on the social security fiscal bill, which is key to next year's budget.

Prime Minister Michel Barnier made a surprise appearance at the House of Representatives, where the review of the social security finance bill will be held on the 2nd local time, and said he would invoke constitutional provisions to pass the bill.

Article 49 (3) of the French Constitution allows the government to pass a bill approved by the State Council without a parliamentary vote under the responsibility of the prime minister when it deems it an urgent situation.

Barnier said France needs a social security finance bill and a budget for next year, and that the French people would never forgive putting their private interests ahead of the country's future, indicating that further compromise with the opposition was impossible.

The opposition party plans to immediately propose a no-confidence motion against the government's handling of the budget bill without a vote by the House of Representatives.

The vote is expected to take place as early as the afternoon of the 4th, as it is possible to vote 48 hours after the time of the constitutional motion.

Barnier's government earlier unveiled next year's budget plan, saying it would cut public spending by about 61 trillion won and increase it to 28.5 trillion won for large companies and the wealthy to reduce the fiscal deficit.

But the left-wing coalition and far-right wing, the main political forces in the House of Representatives, have opposed the government budget, citing reduced consumer purchasing power, deepening social inequality and increasing corporate burdens.

In particular, Prime Minister Barnier made a concession under pressure from the far-right National Union (RN) and withdrew some tax increases and plans to reduce social security, but it seems that he invoked the constitutional clause to the effect that there is no more compromise when the National Union tried to carry out its final demands.