Overview
- The government canceled Assembly sessions set for Friday and Monday and pushed the budget debate to Tuesday, citing the impossibility of a normal vote.
- By Tuesday, Matignon says it will decide whether to use article 49.3 or an ordonnance to adopt the 2026 budget without a standard vote.
- Both options expose the executive to censure; an ordonnance would be unprecedented and would keep the budget in force even if the government were toppled, unlike a 49.3.
- After disordered sittings that killed a €6.3 billion surtax on large-company profits and produced a €4.9 billion cut to local grants, the government will float changes to win a non‑censure pact with the Socialists and independents.
- Matignon puts the deficit under discussion near 5.3% of GDP versus a 5% goal and says no final budget is expected before mid‑February, while Lecornu has warned that censure could trigger snap elections potentially aligned with municipal polls.