For the second time in two years, a French Prime Minister under President Emmanuel Macron has forced through a major economic austerity measure by “executive action” under Article 49.3 of the French Constitution, after the measure could not pass in Parliament. This time, it was Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s deep austerity budget, with cuts totaling €60 billion ($63 billion). The military spending portion of the budget has risen by about 40% since 2022.
Barnier’s government is now very likely to fall tomorrow, Dec. 4, in a confidence vote.
The forced budget primarily cuts social security; two years ago it was pensions that were cut and retirement age raised.
