Budget deadlock in France raises stakes as Minister Amélie de Montchalin leaves open the use of Article 49.3, allowing the government to push the 2026 budget through without a full parliamentary vote
French Budget Minister Amelie de Montchalin on Thursday declined to rule out using a contentious constitutional provision to pass the 2026 state budget, despite her boss’ earlier promise not to take that step.
France began 2026 without an approved state budget after parliamentary negotiations collapsed in December, and the start of the new year has offered little confidence that the government can secure a package acceptable to the country’s hung parliament.
According to a Politico report, amid the deadlock, some lawmakers have urged Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu to invoke Article 49.3 of the French constitution, which allows the government to pass legislation without a full parliamentary vote.
De Montchalin was asked specifically about that possibility during an interview with radio station RTL, to which she replied, “I am not ruling out anything that could provide France with a budget.”
Last year, French lawmakers approved a temporary measure to extend the 2025 budget into 2026, preventing a government shutdown but doing little to reduce the country’s soaring budget deficit.
PM Lecornu had pledged not to use Article 49.3 of the constitution last year to safeguard his minority center-right government.
Invoking it now, however, carries significant political risk, not only because it could be seen as breaking that promise, but also because it would escalate the stakes of the budget debate, reported Politico.
If the government were to use the clause, lawmakers’ only recourse would be a no-confidence motion.
A successful vote would topple the government and leave France without both a functioning administration and an approved state budget.
The center-left Socialist Party, traditionally more willing to negotiate than other opposition factions, indicated it might refrain from supporting a no-confidence motion if the government employed Article 49.3, provided the budget includes some of the party’s policy demands.
With inputs from agencies
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