Sébastien Lecornu renounces article 49.3 for 2026 budget
France's new Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, announced on Friday that he would renounce using article 49.3 of the Constitution to pass the 2026 budget. This decision aims to foster consensus in Parliament. He also reaffirmed his opposition to any rollback of the pension reform.
Sébastien Lecornu, appointed Prime Minister on October 1, 2025, made several key announcements on Friday, October 3, during interviews and official statements. In an interview with Le Monde, he stated: « I am closing the door to any questioning of the pension reform », emphasizing that this reform, adopted in 2023 under the previous government, remains a cornerstone of economic policy.
Regarding the 2026 budget, Lecornu surprised by announcing that he would not resort to article 49.3, the constitutional provision allowing the government to pass a bill without a parliamentary vote, except via a no-confidence motion. « We renounce article 49.3 for the 2026 budget », he affirmed, explaining that this approach would avoid tensions and build majorities on a case-by-case basis. This method, described as « the behind-the-scenes of the Lecornu method » by observers, relies on negotiations with various parliamentary groups, amid the political fragmentation following the 2024 legislative elections.
Lecornu will deliver his general policy statement on Tuesday afternoon before the National Assembly, where he will outline the main lines of his program. This intervention comes in a tense climate, with left-wing oppositions demanding the repeal of the pension reform and concerns over the budget deficit. The government, formed around a centrist and moderate coalition, thus seeks to stabilize its position without resorting to controversial tools.
No contradictions were noted between the sources: all confirm the announcement on 49.3 and the refusal to touch the pensions, dated October 3, 2025.