The Socialists Set Their Conditions to Resume Budget Negotiations

The Socialist Party (PS) suspended a meeting with the government on Tuesday aimed at reaching an agreement for the joint parliamentary committee (CMP) on the budget. This decision followed remarks made by François Bayrou, who spoke of a “feeling of migratory submersion,” a term deemed unacceptable by the Socialists. In light of these comments, PS officials are demanding that the Prime Minister retract this term before negotiations can resume.

A Clear Demand: Retract the “Migratory Submersion” Statement

Deputy Philippe Brun expressed the PS’s disapproval of Bayrou’s words, describing them as a “misstep.” He stated that the Prime Minister must “withdraw these words, which unnecessarily hurt.” For the Socialists, such language only fuels unnecessary tensions and hampers the resumption of budget negotiations. He emphasized that the PS’s responsibility is to focus on the country’s best interest and work towards a budget compromise in a more peaceful environment.

Additional Conditions for Resuming Negotiations

Beyond this request for a retraction of Bayrou’s statement, the Socialists set another fundamental condition: a guarantee that the State Medical Aid (AME) will not be altered. This program, which allows undocumented immigrants to access healthcare, was recently cut by €200 million by the Senate, which is controlled by the right-wing. For the PS, any further reduction in this aid would be unacceptable. Johanna Rolland, the mayor of Nantes, stressed this demand, stating that the AME issue must be resolved before negotiations can resume.

A Budget is Essential for France

Despite these disagreements, Philippe Brun reiterated that it is crucial for France to adopt a budget for 2025. According to him, failure to pass the budget would be “catastrophic for the country,” and he reaffirmed that the PS is willing to negotiate on issues such as raising the minimum wage and the working-class bonus, measures they consider vital to support the purchasing power of the French people.

In the Background: The Use of 49.3 and the Question of Censorship

In the background, the potential for the government to face censorship looms if it resorts to using Article 49.3 to pass the budget. Johanna Rolland urged Socialists to “seriously consider” this option. Furthermore, from the side of the National Rally (RN), the issue of immigration—especially the cost of the AME—could be used as leverage to attack the government, further exacerbating political tensions.