The French Parliament unanimously adopted a special finance law on December 23, 2025, to prevent a state financial blockade starting January 1, 2026. This provisional text, presented by Sébastien Lecornu's government after failed negotiations on the 2026 budget, temporarily extends 2025 credits. Discussions on a full budget will resume in January amid ongoing uncertainties.
On December 22, 2025, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu consulted political groups before presenting an urgent special finance law project in the council of ministers. Adopted the next day at the National Assembly and then the Senate, this text aims to ensure the continuity of national life and the operation of public services while awaiting a proper 2026 budget.
Passed unanimously by deputies, with abstentions from La France Insoumise (LFI) members, the project temporarily extends the 2025 budget. It authorizes the state to collect existing taxes, maintain deductions on state revenues for local authorities, and borrow. "This law is not a budget, it's the strict minimum," acknowledged Minister for Public Action and Accounts Amélie de Montchalin. The Assembly's budget general rapporteur, Philippe Juvin (Les Républicains), described it as an "exceptional text to face an equally exceptional situation," a "safeguard mechanism to avoid any paralysis of public action." His Senate counterpart, Jean-François Husson, added: "National life must continue."
During the council of ministers, Emmanuel Macron called this measure "unsatisfactory," noting it "does not solve the deficit problems" and "creates problems on the country's priorities." According to government spokesperson Maud Bregeon, the president stressed: "We must as soon as possible, in January, give a budget to the nation" that "will hold the 5% deficit target and fund our priorities." Lecornu believes a budget is "still votable without government intervention" if political calculations are set aside.
The finance commission will meet on January 8 and 9, 2026, to examine the budget from the Senate's version, signaling the resumption of heated debates on budgetary uncertainties.
