France has suspended parliamentary debates on its spending bill after lawmakers failed to agree on state expenditure. The government says it is \"impossible\" to adopt the budget by a vote and is weighing two options: invoking Article 49.3 to force the bill through, or issuing an unprecedented decree to enact the budget directly. Both options could spark no-confidence motions, and the debate is paused until Tuesday as leaders seek a resolution.
France Suspends Budget Talks as Government Weighs Article 49.3 or Unprecedented Decree
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is mulling options (Alain JOCARD)(Alain JOCARD/AFP/AFP)
France's government has suspended parliamentary debates on this year's spending bill and will outline a way forward on Friday after failing to secure lawmakers' backing.
The eurozone's second-largest economy has been mired in political uncertainty since President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections in 2024 and lost his parliamentary majority. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu vowed to seek parliamentary approval for a 2026 austerity budget rather than push it through without a vote.
Although Lecornu won approval for a social security spending bill by year-end, lawmakers have not reached agreement on the broader state expenditure package. Lecornu's office said late Thursday it was \"impossible to adopt a budget by a vote\" and is considering two alternative courses of action.
Two Constitutional Paths Under Consideration
The first option is to invoke Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to force the legislation through parliament without a vote — a tool used in past budget battles. That move can prompt a no-confidence motion which, if successful, would topple the government and nullify its spending bill.
The second, unprecedented option would be to issue a decree to enact the budget directly into law. While this could also trigger a no-confidence vote, the budget itself would remain in force even if the cabinet were ousted.
The government has paused further budget debates until Tuesday while Lecornu seeks support — notably from the Socialist party, a key swing group in the assembly — to avoid the most politically risky outcomes.
Lawmakers express growing frustration: "I'm tired of having the same debate over and over again," said Marie-Christine Dalloz of the right-wing Republicans. Green MP Steevy Gustave added: "If only there had been results, some compromises — but no."
With both constitutional routes carrying serious political risk, the coming days will determine whether France can break the deadlock through compromise, risk a government collapse, or deploy a decree to guarantee the budget's enactment.
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