The Prime Minister of France, François Bayrou successfully overcame two no-confidence motions in parliament on Wednesday, clearing the path for the approval of the long-overdue 2025 budget, which is crucial for addressing France's severe debt crisis.

The motions, initiated by the hard left, were destined to fail as the far-right National Rally and centre-left Socialists chose not to support them.

The first motion garnered 128 votes and the second 122, both falling significantly short of the required 289 votes for passage.

Far-left lawmakers filed two no-confidence motions against Prime Minister François Bayrou after he invoked special constitutional powers to push through the 2025 budget.

This mechanism, known as Article 49.3, enables the minority government to bypass a parliamentary vote and enact legislation directly, Reuters reports.

Both the National Rally and the Socialist Party had indicated prior to the votes that they would not back the no-confidence motions, citing the urgent need for France to have a budget. However, the Socialists announced plans to introduce a separate motion at a later date in response to recent remarks by Bayrou on immigration.

Bayrou had stated that many French citizens feel “submerged” by immigration, a comment he has since defended despite its temporary disruption of budget discussions. That motion is also unlikely to succeed.

France has faced political turbulence since President Emmanuel Macron unexpectedly called a snap election in June, resulting in a fragmented hung parliament where no party holds a majority.

Budget disputes have unsettled financial markets and led to the downfall of Bayrou's predecessor, Michel Barnier, who lasted only three months in office. Bayrou's government has managed to endure by making costly concessions to both the left and far-right to push the legislation forward.

“This budget is not perfect. It is an emergency step as our country cannot live without a budget,” Bayrou said to lawmakers before the vote.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Eric Lombard described the failure of the no-confidence motion as “a good thing” for France.

The budget is designed to reduce the deficit, increase taxes on large corporations and the wealthy, and implement spending cuts.