France's 2026 Budget Clears Parliament After Government Survives No-Confidence Votes
PARIS — France’s National Assembly on Monday adopted the government’s 2026 budget, drawing a line under months of tense negotiations and political brinkmanship. The vote came after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu survived two more no-confidence motions, the latest in a string of challenges to his minority government.
Lawmakers rejected motions brought by the hard-left France Unbowed alliance and the far-right National Rally. The votes were triggered after Lecornu invoked a constitutional tool last Friday to force the budget through parliament without a direct ballot — a move he had previously vowed to avoid, calling it a “partial failure.”
The outcome breaks a four-month deadlock over state spending and allows the €360 billion budget to take effect. Analysts say the prolonged standoff highlighted the fragility of France’s political landscape since President Emmanuel Macron lost his parliamentary majority in 2024.
“This budget is adopted, but at a high political cost,” said political scientist Claire Moreau of Sciences Po. “The government’s repeated use of Article 49.3 has eroded its legitimacy, even if it achieved the immediate goal.”
Lecornu, 39, secured the budget’s passage by making last-minute concessions to the Socialist Party, which holds a pivotal position in the fractured assembly. In return for their support, the Socialists won measures including a one-euro daily meal for students and an increased top-up payment for low-income workers. Their push for a wealth tax on the ultra-rich, however, was left out of the final text.
The budget aims to trim France’s public deficit to 5% of GDP in 2026, down from an expected 5.4% in 2025 — a more modest target than the initially planned 4.7%. It also raises taxes on certain large businesses, projected to yield €7.3 billion in 2026, and boosts military spending by €6.5 billion, a priority Lecornu has called the “heart” of the plan.
France remains under pressure from the European Union to curb its debt, which is nearing 110% of GDP — almost double the EU’s 60% limit. The budget stalemate had exposed deep divisions between a right-leaning Senate pushing for spending cuts and a lower house where the left demanded higher taxes on the wealthy.
Voices from the Public
Marie Dubois, 52, teacher from Lyon: “Finally, some clarity. The endless debates were paralyzing the country. The student meal measure is a small but meaningful win.”
Antoine Lefèvre, 44, small business owner in Toulouse: “Another budget forced through without a proper vote. It’s democratic erosion. And who pays? Businesses, again. This government is out of touch.”
Chloé Bernard, 61, retiree in Strasbourg: “I’m relieved the deadlock is over, but worried about the debt. We keep postponing hard choices, like pension reform. Our grandchildren will foot the bill.”
Luc Moreau, 38, political activist in Paris: “This is a sham! Lecornu bypassed parliament three times. The ‘concessions’ are crumbs. The system is broken, and this budget proves it.”
The budget’s adoption concludes a turbulent chapter for Lecornu, who was appointed in September and briefly stepped down in October before being reinstated. His two predecessors were both ousted by parliament over austerity measures, underscoring the volatility of French politics in the post‑Macron era.