Now, however, rumblings are growing louder that Lecornu has made a strategic error depriving him of a key tool needed to avert budgetary chaos — even if at the time it helped ensured his survival.
Conservative leader Bruno Retailleau, a former minister who served in previous minority governments during Macron’s second term, urged Lecornu in a radio interview to go back on his word and trigger the constitutional clause, Article 49.3, to pass “a budget aligned with our nation’s interest.”
Such a move would be risky too, as lawmakers are allowed to respond to the triggering of Article 49.3 by putting forward a motion of no confidence. That’s what they did last year when then–Prime Minister Michel Barnier tried to ram through his own social security legislation, and Barnier was ousted.
Whatever happens in the coming days, the risk of a U.S.-style shutdown is minimal. Lawmakers can pass legislation to roll over the 2025 state budget into next year. To keep the country’s social safety net solvent, MPs can pass ad hoc legislation approving short-term borrowing and treasury advances until a proper bill is adopted.
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon insisted that each individual MP would be responsible for the outcome of the vote, not just political groups.
“There’s is no plan B,” Bregeon said at a press conference on Tuesday.