Paris, 6 February 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The French Senate approved the long overdue budget for 2025 on Thursday after months of political turmoil.

The upper house of parliament passed the budget with 219 senators in favour and 107 opposed.

The centre-right government of Prime Minister François Bayrou needed the budget bill to pass in order to carry out its savings plans. The budget aims to reduce the deficit to 5.4% of economic output, compared to 6.1% in 2024. By 2029, it foresees the level to be back below the EU limit of 3%.

The European Commission has already initiated an excessive deficit procedure against France for breaking the bloc's budget rules.

France's previous minority government under Michel Barnier was toppled in December by left-wing parties and the far right over their opposition to the austerity budget.

Bayrou used an article of the constitution to ram the budget through the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, without a final vote earlier this week.

After rounds of talks with the government, the Socialists supported Bayrou in two votes of no confidence in the National Assembly on Wednesday. Far-right lawmakers also did not oppose the government despite criticizing the budget.

MIA file photo