The French government has adopted its 2026 budget, ending months of political deadlock after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu used a constitutional power to push the spending bill through parliament without a vote.
The prime minister’s decision to bypass lawmakers triggered two no-confidence motions against his government, one from the hard-left and another from the far-right. Both motions failed to pass on Monday, allowing the budget to be formally adopted.
The approved budget includes measures aimed at reducing France’s national deficit to five percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2026. It also allocates an additional 6.5 billion euros ($7.7 billion) to military spending.
The French budget for 2026 has been officially adopted, bringing an end to a prolonged period of political stalemate. The passage of the bill was secured after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu invoked a special constitutional article to approve the legislation without a parliamentary vote.
This move prompted immediate backlash from opposition parties, leading to two separate no-confidence motions. However, the government successfully overcame both challenges on Monday, solidifying the adoption of the French budget. The financial plan focuses on deficit reduction and includes a significant increase in defense spending.
