French PM 'will use constitutional tool' to force budget through parliament

"The French prime minister will use the constitutional tool known as Article 49.3 to ram the 2026 budget through the deadlocked parliament, according to multiple government sources, risking the collapse of another French government. After weeks of attempted negotiation between the factions in the deadlocked French parliament, PM Sébastien Lecornu announced last week that a compromise was "impossible". On Monday, government sources said that he will use the constitutional tool known as Article 49.3, which allows the government to ram a bill through parliament without a vote."

"However, such a move risks bringing down Lecornu's government - since the use of Article 49.3 almost always triggers a no-confidence vote which the government, not having a majority, may lose. If the Lecornu government falls it would mark the fifth government within a two-year period. Negotiations are believed to be ongoing with the centre-right Parti Socialiste who form a decisive block in parliament and who could, in exchange for concessions in the budget, save the government by voting against the no-confidence motion."

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will use Article 49.3 to force the 2026 budget through a deadlocked parliament after negotiations failed. The constitutional tool allows the government to enact a bill without a parliamentary vote but almost always prompts a no-confidence motion that the minority government may lose. A collapse would be the fifth government in two years. Negotiations continue with the Parti Socialiste, which could save the government in exchange for concessions. Announced concessions include one-euro university meals for all students, €400 million for social housing, an average €50 monthly top-up for low-income earners, preserved pensioner tax breaks and student grants, and no household tax increases.

Read at The Local France