Bruno Retailleau, president of Les Républicains, has joined earlier calls from figures like former Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne urging Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to invoke Article 49.3 for a responsible 2026 budget, without further concessions to socialists. In an Ouest-France interview, he criticizes deals with the PS that allowed the social security budget to pass but stalled the state budget, following Friday's joint committee failure. Lecornu plans talks Monday to avoid deadlock.
Following earlier appeals such as Elisabeth Borne's December 14 call in Le Parisien, Bruno Retailleau—back in the Senate for Vendée after his stint as interior minister—renewed the push for Article 49.3 in a Saturday Ouest-France interview. "The prime minister must stop yielding everything to the socialists," he said, faulting Lecornu for PS concessions like fewer savings, more taxes, deficits, debt, and a no-49.3 pledge that enabled social security adoption but blocked the state budget.
Friday's joint committee (CMP) failure with seven senators and deputies deepened the impasse. LR budget rapporteurs Jean-François Husson and Philippe Juvin regretted the lack of agreement: "We were ready for compromise, but unsure of votes in Assembly and Senate," Juvin said. France risks missing its finance law deadline for a second year.
Lecornu will meet parties Monday, then hold a council of ministers. A special law extending the 2025 budget is favored, needing votes by Tuesday. Retailleau accuses Lecornu of confronting the Senate to bypass it, notes no contacts since October 5 government fall, and slams broken promises, Bruno Le Maire's hidden Defense role, and over €1 trillion debt. He praises Budget Minister Amélie de Montchalin for elevating debate, calling her "the woman who reveals herself."
