France’s budget minister has refused to rule out forcing through a state budget without a parliamentary vote, as the country drifts deeper into political deadlock at the start of 2026.
“I am not ruling out anything that could provide France with a budget,” Amélie de Montchalin said on Thursday, January 8th, responding to questions about the possible use of Article 49.3 of the constitution, a controversial clause that allows the government to adopt legislation without a vote by MPs.
France entered the new year without an agreed state budget after negotiations in parliament collapsed in December.
With no majority in the National Assembly, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s minority centre-right government has struggled to assemble a package capable of securing approval. Lecornu had previously pledged not to use Article 49.3, arguing that consultation should prevail, but that approach has yet to yield results.
To avoid institutional paralysis, MPs adopted a temporary “special law” rolling over the 2025 budget into 2026. While this ensures the continuity of the state and prevents any form of shutdown, it freezes spending and revenues at last year’s levels and fails to address France’s swelling deficit.
Invoking Article 49.3 would dramatically raise the stakes, as parliament’s only recourse would be a motion of no confidence that could leave France without both a government and a proper budget.
