Overview

• On his first trip as prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu announced a 'France Santé' network of 5,000 local health houses by 2027 to guarantee access to care within about 30 minutes, with funding to be written into the 2026 State and Social Security budgets.
• Lecornu said he will do everything to avoid using Article 49.3 on the budget and confirmed he is dropping the floated plan to cut two public holidays.
• The prime minister urged a dialogue with the Socialists, Greens and Communists while accusing LFI of excluding itself; LFI leaders called him illegitimate and warned they will file a censure motion if he skips a confidence vote, and EELV ruled out talks or joining his team.
• Marine Le Pen demanded a new dissolution and told supporters the Lecornu government will likely be censured within weeks or months, as the RN rallied thousands in Bordeaux and prepared for potential elections.
• Unions set a national day of strikes and protests for September 18 after a reported 197,000 turnout on September 10, Medef warned of a large employer mobilisation if corporate taxes rise, farmers plan actions on September 25, and François Hollande cautioned that failure to reach a compromise could leave dissolution as the only path.