Even if France’s budget doesn’t tackle the public deficit, let’s give thanks it exists | Agnès Poirer

Politics have sunk so low since Emmanuel Macron’s snap election, we’re just grateful when foretold catastrophes don’t materialise

Houra! Or rather, hurrah! On Monday, the French government, led by François Bayrou, our fourth prime minister in a year, did not fall. Our expectations have sunk so low since the July 2024 snap elections derailed our politics that we are grateful when catastrophes foretold don’t materialise. When Michel Barnier’s government fell before Christmas, it had been in power for just three months and had not managed to pass any sort of legislation. It was the first time since 1962 that a government had been toppled after a vote of non-confidence.

The current government did not fall again last week thanks to the Socialists, who seem to be finally “decoupling” from the chaos-hungry far left of Jean-Luc Mélenchon. The Socialists are now the kingmakers and quite enjoy the limelight. Let’s hope they will continue to think with their head and not be tempted by futile revolutionary impulses. France needs a little pragmatism, for a change. Bayrou, a centrist and smooth operator, has achieved one thing: France now has a budget. And even if this budget doesn’t tackle the huge public deficit (6% of GDP), at least it exists. Now we can all return to our favourite pastime: feeling morose.

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