Nederlands
English
Lecornu Invokes Article 49.3 Amid Political Crisis
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has taken the dramatic step of invoking Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to force through the country's 2026 budget without a parliamentary vote. The decision, announced during a cabinet meeting on Monday, comes after three months of failed negotiations to secure majority support for the austerity measures needed to address France's ballooning deficit.
'Regret and bitterness' is how Lecornu described his decision from the Elysée Palace, according to France correspondent Saskia Houttuin. After months of negotiations and concessions, the prime minister felt compelled to push the budget through by decree—without parliamentary agreement and thus without a vote.
What is Article 49.3?
Article 49.3 is a controversial constitutional provision introduced in 1958 that allows the French government to bypass parliamentary opposition and pass legislation without a vote. When invoked, MPs have 48 hours to file a motion of no confidence. If such a motion passes with an absolute majority, the government must resign and the bill is rejected. If it fails or isn't filed, the bill is automatically adopted.
This mechanism has been used over 100 times since the Fifth Republic began, with recent governments increasingly relying on it to push through unpopular reforms. Former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne invoked it 23 times in just 19 months, while President Emmanuel Macron has used it 12 times total, including for his controversial pension reform in 2023.
France's Budget Crisis
France faces a budget deficit of 5% of GDP—the largest in the European Union. The country has been operating under emergency measures that roll over the 2025 budget since lawmakers failed to pass a proper budget by the end of last year.
Lecornu, who became prime minister in September 2025 after his predecessor François Bayrou resigned over lack of support for austerity measures, has struggled to build consensus in France's hung parliament. Bayrou had proposed €44 billion in cuts targeting education, healthcare, and even canceling two national holidays, which sparked massive protests across France.
Lecornu's own tenure has been tumultuous. He resigned after just 26 days in October 2025—the shortest tenure in French Fifth Republic history—only to be reappointed by President Macron days later.
Political Fallout and Survival Strategy
The use of Article 49.3 automatically triggers the possibility of no-confidence votes. Two opposition parties—the far-right National Rally and hard-left France Unbowed—have already announced they will file such motions.
However, Lecornu may have a survival strategy. Over the weekend, he made significant concessions to the Socialist Party, including raising tax rates for large corporations and increasing social housing spending. These moves could secure the abstention of Socialist MPs during confidence votes, potentially allowing his government to survive.
'In October he had promised not to resort to this measure, because previous experience showed it would open the door to a motion of no confidence,' noted correspondent Houttuin. 'That vote will definitely come, two parties have already requested it. But Lecornu has a trump card that gives him a chance to survive a confidence vote.'
President Macron has reportedly supported the move, with Le Parisien reporting that Lecornu spent days convincing the president of the necessity of applying the controversial law.
Broader Implications
This political crisis stems from Macron losing his parliamentary majority after snap elections in 2024. The frequent use of Article 49.3 has become increasingly controversial, with critics calling it undemocratic for sidelining parliamentary representatives.
In December 2024, Prime Minister Michel Barnier's use of Article 49.3 for the social security budget led to a successful no-confidence vote—the first such occurrence in 62 years—toppling his government. This precedent makes Lecornu's move particularly risky.
The budget aims to keep France's public deficit at 5% of GDP, with Macron praising it for 'guaranteeing stability.' However, with France's political landscape deeply fractured and public discontent over austerity measures simmering, Lecornu's gamble could determine not just the fate of his government, but the direction of French economic policy for years to come.
