France’s PM will use constitutional powers to pass the 2026 budget, calling it a “partial failure” and risking a vote that could topple his government.
PARIS: Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu confirmed he will force his 2026 austerity budget through parliament without a vote.
He conceded this move represents a “partial failure” after weeks of stalled negotiations.
Lecornu told a news conference he decided “with a certain degree of regret and a bit of bitterness” to invoke the constitutional measure.
He had previously pledged to seek parliamentary approval to avoid the fate of his ousted predecessors.
“We have to be humble. It’s a partial success, partial failure,” he said upon announcing the decision.
The use of “Article 49.3” to pass the legislation can trigger a no-confidence vote that could topple the government.
President Emmanuel Macron hailed the budget for “guaranteeing stability” and “allowing the country to move forward”.
Macron emphasised the budget “required compromises and concessions from everyone”.
Lecornu vowed the new budget would keep the public deficit at 5% of gross domestic product.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen denounced Lecornu’s “irresponsible announcement” and called for punishment for politicians “who choose to ruin our country”.
She added she would file a no-confidence motion in a post on X.
The hard-left France Unbowed party had earlier announced it would also table such a motion.
Lecornu made concessions in the spending bill to please the Socialists, a key swing group in the hung parliament.
Following his announcement, the Socialists indicated they were satisfied with the concessions to their demands.
The changes “make it possible to contemplate non-censure,” said head of the Socialist deputies Boris Vallaud.
Socialist deputy Jerome Guedj assured that “if what has been stated is indeed reflected, there will be no censure.”
The eurozone’s second-largest economy has been bogged down in political crisis since Macron lost his parliamentary majority in 2024.
Hoping to end the impasse, Lecornu said: “We’re going to stop putting on a show for the whole world.”
