Official statements from the French government or the Socialist Party

PS Opposes Bayrou, Demands Renouncement of 49.3 for Non-Censure

Dec 13, 2024, 01:50 PM

The French Socialist Party (PS) has declared its intention to remain in opposition to the newly appointed Prime Minister, François Bayrou, and has outlined specific conditions for its parliamentary support. In a letter addressed to Bayrou, the PS has requested that he renounce the use of Article 49.3, which allows the government to pass legislation without a vote in the National Assembly, in exchange for the party not voting a motion of censure against his government. The PS also seeks assurances that Bayrou's administration will not align with the National Rally's xenophobic policies. This stance comes after President Emmanuel Macron appointed Bayrou as Prime Minister, a move seen by the PS as a continuation of Macron's policies, which they believe were rejected by voters in recent elections. The PS will not participate in Bayrou's government, and Bayrou, in his first statement as Prime Minister, emphasized the need for national reconciliation, stating that there is a path to be found that brings people together instead of dividing them.