French PM forces final budget through parliament

"France must have a budget. And so, before this chamber, I am committing the government's responsibility for the entire Finance Bill for 2026,"

"Opponents have vowed to file a no-confidence motion against him in response."

"The decision to use the constitutional tool known as article 49.3 marked an about-face for Lecornu, who pledged last year to seek parliament's approval, in a bid to avoid the fate of his two predecessors who were ousted over budget negotiations."

"The eurozone's second-largest economy has been bogged down in political crises since Macron called a snap poll in 2024, in which he lost his parliamentary majority."

Sebastien Lecornu forced the 2026 state budget through the National Assembly for the third and final time without a parliamentary vote by invoking article 49.3 of the constitution. He stated that France must have a budget and committed the government's responsibility for the entire Finance Bill. Opponents vowed to file a no-confidence motion in response. If Lecornu survives the expected motion, the budget is likely to be adopted on Monday. Lecornu previously used the same tactic on earlier sections after negotiations stalled. The move reversed his earlier pledge to seek parliamentary approval. Political instability followed Macron's 2024 snap poll loss of a parliamentary majority.

Read at The Local France