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Lecornu to Use Article 49.3 to Push France’s 2026 Budget Through Parliament

Socialist signals lower the risk of a successful no-confidence vote.

Overview

  • Lecornu acknowledged breaking a pledge by turning to Article 49.3 after talks collapsed, with the budget deemed adopted unless a confidence motion succeeds.
  • The government plans to activate 49.3 on revenues, expenditures and the final text, enabling opposition motions at each step and pointing to possible final adoption by mid-February if it prevails.
  • La France Insoumise said it will file a no-confidence motion, while Socialist leaders indicated they would not move to bring down the government.
  • To win Socialist support, the government offered a low-income subsidy, €1 student meals, 2,000 new education posts and the retention of a special levy on large companies.
  • Budget passage is tied to fiscal repair goals as debt stands near 117% of GDP and the deficit target is below 5%, alongside a freeze on the planned pension-age rise until 2027.