Particle.news
Download on the App Store

France Seeks January Passage of 2026 Budget Without Using 49.3

The economy minister says adoption before the end of January looks achievable despite a €10 billion gap.

Overview

  • Debates resume on January 8 in the National Assembly’s finance committee as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu tries to secure a vote without invoking Article 49.3.
  • Economy Minister Roland Lescure says the conditions are in place for adoption this month and reiterates a 2026 deficit cap of 5% of GDP with a path below 3% by 2029.
  • A stopgap continuity law is financing government operations in the meantime, a measure Lescure says will cost several billions of euros the longer it lasts.
  • Matignon confirms it is considering reviving Senator Patrick Kanner’s five‑year, zero‑interest compulsory loan for roughly 20,000 high‑income taxpayers as a negotiating tool, and reports business leaders did not oppose the concept when consulted.
  • The compulsory‑loan idea has drawn criticism from the right and parts of the majority, underscoring that passage may hinge on left‑wing abstentions and the stance of Les Républicains.