Prime Minister François Bayrou of France, facing a ballooning public debt and an increasingly raucous French public set on protesting any suggested cuts, announced a special parliamentary session next month to force lawmakers’ hands.
The key question that will be posed during the session called for Sept. 8: Will parliamentarians agree with Mr. Bayrou’s government that the country’s financial situation is perilous, requiring an immediate reduction of 44 billion euros (a little over $51 billion) to the public deficit this year?
If they agree, Mr. Bayrou said at a new conference on Monday afternoon, the details about how to achieve those savings will be discussed with unions and hammered out in Parliament, he said.
If an absolute majority of lawmakers vote no, the government will fall.
“An immediate danger hangs over us that we must face not tomorrow or the day after, but today, without any delay whatsoever,” Mr. Bayrou said. “Otherwise, we will have no future.” He added, “There’s no way out if we don’t realize the gravity of this risk.”
His move had all the markings of a risky political gamble, given the precarious nature of the government since President Emmanuel Macron called a snap election last summer. The result was a fractured National Assembly and a minority government that has already faced — and survived — more than a half-dozen parliamentary votes to bring it down.
Moments after Mr. Bayrou concluded his announcement, a crescendo of political party leaders vowed to vote against it and topple the government.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
The post French Prime Minister Seeks to Force Lawmakers’ Hands on Ballooning Debt appeared first on New York Times.
