An unprecedented political gesture under the Fifth Republic

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced Friday morning from Matignon that he was abandoning the use of Article 49.3 of the Constitution to pass the 2026 Finance Bill. He described this choice as “the most parliamentary moment of the Fifth Republic.”

This decision places the government in a fragile position, as all left-wing parties — with the possible exception of the still-hesitant Socialist Party — have already pledged to file a motion of no confidence. The Prime Minister’s fate could now depend on the National Rally (RN), the largest group in the National Assembly.

A decisive day at Matignon

Starting at 9 a.m., Lecornu began a series of meetings with representatives of the main political forces. Marine Le Pen, leader of the RN, was the first to be received. At 10:30 a.m., it was the turn of the Socialists, who came with specific demands: a wealth tax inspired by economist Gabriel Zucman, and the suspension of pension reform. Both demands were rejected by the head of government, who instead highlighted measures aimed at supporting purchasing power, such as reinstating the “Macron bonus” and tax cuts for low-income households.

The Ecologists and the Communists were expected later in the morning. Lecornu said he was ready for “compromises” and urged each party to “make a gesture without abandoning their convictions.”

Republicans set their conditions

The parliamentary right, whose stance could prove decisive, raised its demands. During a videoconference on Thursday evening, Republican MPs called for “a third of the government” and clear answers on immigration. “The participation of LR is by no means guaranteed,” warned party leader Bruno Retailleau in an interview with Le Figaro.

In practice, the political balance of the Assembly has already shifted. The Macronists and the Republicans, with RN support, secured all chairmanships of permanent committees, except for the Finance Committee, which remains led by leftist MP Éric Coquerel.

Between fragility and openness

“For the past three weeks, I have deliberately kept a low profile to allow space for discussions,” noted Lecornu. His gamble is to transform the budget into an exercise in parliamentary compromise, rather than imposing it by force. But the strategy is risky: if the Socialists align with their left-wing allies in a no-confidence motion, the Prime Minister will have to rely either on the RN’s support or on massive abstention to keep his position.

France is thus experiencing a pivotal political moment. In a climate of sharp polarization, Lecornu’s ability to maintain a relative majority and negotiate “case by case” will be closely scrutinized in the coming days, as the passage of the 2026 budget looms as one of the most delicate tests of his term.

What's happening in Tunisia?
Subscribe to our Youtube channel for updates.