"He managed to get a bill on social security spending approved by year end, but lawmakers have failed to reach a compromise on state expenses. Lécornu's office said late on Thursday that it would be "impossible to adopt a budget by a vote" and that it would be looking at two alternative options. One is to use a constitutional power under Article 49.3 to push the legislation through parliament without a vote, as for previous budgets."
"Lecornu would have to reach a deal with the Socialists - a key swing group - to avoid this scenario, which would likely involve in return key budget concessions on state spending and taxes. The other option is issuing a decree that forces the budget directly into law, using powers under Article 47 of the constitution - which would be the first time that this power has ever been used."
France's government halted parliamentary budget discussions after lawmakers failed to back this year's spending bill and will announce a way forward. The eurozone's second-largest economy has faced political crisis since snap 2024 polls in which the president's party lost its majority. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu pledged to seek parliament approval for a 2026 austerity budget rather than ram it through, and secured social security spending approval but stalled on state expenses. Lecornu's office said adoption by vote was impossible and is considering Article 49.3 or an unprecedented Article 47 decree, both of which risk no-confidence votes. The government suspended further debates until Tuesday amid cross-spectrum exasperation and calls for a swift resolution.
Read at The Local France
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