French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Friday ruled out invoking Article 49.3 of the Constitution to push through the 2026 budget, insisting lawmakers must reach a compromise to pass the measure.
“I have decided to stop using Article 49.3 of the Constitution,” Lecornu told reporters in Paris. “In a functioning parliament one that’s been recently renewed and reflects the face of France you can’t just force things through.”
The move marks a significant break from recent governments that relied heavily on the clause to bypass parliamentary deadlock. Article 49.3 allows the government to adopt legislation without a vote unless the National Assembly responds with a motion of no confidence a step that has brought down governments in the past.
Earlier this year, Lecornu’s predecessor François Bayrou used 49.3 to pass state and social security budgets, triggering widespread criticism and opposition motions of censure. Elisabeth Borne’s government also invoked the provision multiple times to pass contested reforms, including the pension overhaul.
Also Read: France to Ban Smoking in Public Spaces from July
Analysts say Lecornu’s decision reflects an effort to restore confidence in parliamentary procedure after years of political turbulence and public anger over executive overreach. “This is a test of coalition-building in a fragmented Assembly,” said a political science lecturer at Sciences Po.
The prime minister now faces the challenge of securing enough cross-party backing for the 2026 budget without resorting to constitutional shortcuts. Opposition parties have welcomed his pledge but remain sceptical about whether meaningful compromise can be achieved.
France has been under a naval-gazette-style blockade of parliamentary gridlock since no single party secured an outright majority in the last legislative elections, leaving the executive vulnerable to opposition pushback. Lecornu’s vow not to use 49.3 raises the stakes for negotiations ahead of the budget deadline.
