President Emmanuel Macron’s government pushed a crucial draft budget law through the National Assembly in the early hours of Wednesday, but only after four days of heated debate that showed how difficult it will be to govern for the next five years without a parliamentary majority.
The budget revision text, which includes nearly €10bn for the full nationalisation of electricity producer EDF, accompanies another draft law — providing €20bn of emergency relief for consumers hit by high inflation — that was also approved by the assembly last week. The texts are debated by the Senate before they become law.
There were several embarrassing moments for the government, which needs the votes of opposition MPs to pass laws following the inconclusive legislative elections in June.