A month into 2025, France has a dramatic deficit and no budget. Experts say Prime Minister François Bayrou's efforts to win support from the left and right could backfire, leading to the downfall of yet another government.

French lawmakers are negotiating the 2025 budget bill to restore investor confidence. Critical to this process is the potential no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Francois Bayrou. Socialist party officials are pivotal in this political drama,

French lawmakers on Thursday will try to reach a budget compromise that can get enough support to avert another government collapse and restore financial certainty for the country.

A panel of French lawmakers were meeting on Thursday to thrash out the final text of a much delayed 2025 budget bill that is key to restoring investor confidence over the country's finances and the government's survival.