French Government Faces Legal and Political Hurdles in Passing 2026 Budget

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is navigating a complex political and legal landscape to secure the 2026 French budget amid lack of parliamentary majority support. Facing difficulties passing the budget through the National Assembly, the government has canceled scheduled debates and is considering unprecedented constitutional mechanisms to push the budget forward.

Lecornu may invoke Article 47 of the French Constitution, a provision never before used in the Fifth Republic, which allows the government to pass the budget without parliamentary approval if the budget is not examined by Parliament within seventy days—a deadline already exceeded. This route could enable budget implementation even if Lecornu faces a motion of censure leading to his ousting. However, there are legal uncertainties about this approach and debate among constitutional experts on whether the government should adopt the Senate’s budget version, which the government criticizes for exceeding the 5% deficit threshold.

Alternatively, Lecornu could invoke Article 49.3, enabling the budget to pass without a parliamentary vote but leaving the government vulnerable to censure motions for each section of the budget, potentially leading to repeated parliamentary confrontations. The government might also resort to ordinances reflecting the original budget proposal, which includes €30 billion in savings and excludes amendments made during parliamentary debates, particularly concessions to left-wing lawmakers that risk provoking socialist backlash.

A rectifying finance bill (PLFR) may follow to adjust measures introduced by ordinances, though this could reopen contentious discussion. Some parliamentarians suggest a flexible interpretation of the Constitution to selectively include amendments in the final budget text to appease opposition and avoid immediate censure, though the legality of such negotiated ordinances remains uncertain and prone to future legal challenges.

Lecornu is expected to address the nation on January 16 with proposals aimed at compromise on the budget. The government’s moves have drawn criticism, especially from the Socialist Party, with concerns that using ordinances to pass the budget would set a problematic precedent for future budget debates. The evolving situation highlights tensions between legal mechanisms and political pragmatism in managing France’s critical fiscal agenda for 2026.