French Budget Drama Nears End as Premier Opts to Bypass Vote (1)

French premier Sebastien Lecornu said he will use a constitutional tool to adopt the 2026 budget without a parliamentary vote, signaling he has secured sufficient parliamentary backing to survive subsequent no-confidence ballots.

The premier will invoke Article 49.3 to adopt a revised version of the bill after months of talks with opposition parties failed to yield an agreement at the National Assembly.

Lecornu had previously ruled out using the mechanism as it is unpopular among opposition lawmakers who joined forces to oust both his predecessors in feuds over the budget.

“We are France, so I think we should stop making ...