Lawmakers last year voted to effectively roll over the 2025 budget into the new year to avoid a government shutdown, but that stopgap solution does nothing to bring down France’s massive budget deficit.
Lecornu promised not to use the clause last year to ensure the immediate survival of his minority center-right government. But using the mechanism now would be risky, and not just because it might look like going back on his word.
Employing it would dramatically raise the stakes of the debate, as lawmakers’ only remaining option to block the legislation would be to respond with a no confidence motion that, if successful, would leave France with neither a government nor a proper state budget.
The center-left Socialist Party, a member of the opposition that has proven more willing to engage in talks than other parties, said it could refrain from backing a motion of no confidence even if the government were to use Article 49.3, provided the legislation forced through parliament included some of its policy requests.