French Prime Minister Wants to Pass State Budget Without Parliament

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu invoked Article 49.3 of the Constitution, which allows bills to be approved without parliamentary confirmation, in order to finalize the state budget for 2026 amid ongoing political disagreements.

Previously, two separate parts of the state budget—one for revenues and one for expenditures—were adopted in this manner. Now, the entire text must be approved.

“France needs to have a budget, and therefore… the government takes on the full responsibility for the draft budget for 2026 based on Article 49.3 of the Constitution,” Lecornu stated in the National Assembly (the lower house of Parliament). The speech was broadcast on the ministry's website.

Now, left- and right-wing opposition lawmakers are again required to present two separate votes of no confidence against the government. If these are rejected by the majority, the draft budget for 2026 will be considered adopted.