Parliament Unanimously Passes Special Law to Ensure State Functioning in 2026
On the eve of Christmas, the French Parliament unanimously passed a special law on Tuesday, December 23, preventing a budgetary paralysis on January 1. This provisional measure extends the 2025 budget while awaiting a definitive text for 2026. Both chambers approved the plan presented by the government.
Unanimous Adoption in Light of Failed Budget Negotiations
Lawmakers unanimously approved the special bill with 496 votes in favor and none against during the session on the afternoon of December 23. This text, presented in the Council of Ministers the day before, addresses the lack of an agreement on the 2026 budget between the National Assembly and the Senate. The joint committee had failed to reconcile the positions of the two chambers after two and a half months of intense debates. The Senate followed suit, unanimously adopting the same bill with 344 votes in favor and none against, allowing for its immediate promulgation by the President of the Republic. « A budget is needed in January, » insisted Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, highlighting that France is entering 2026 without an adopted finance law. This special law takes effect on January 1 and temporarily funds the State and administrations until a complete budget is established.
A Temporary Measure to Maintain Public Services
The special law extends the credits from the 2025 budget, preventing a halt in public payments and a paralysis of government operations. It covers the period until a full budget for 2026 is adopted, anticipated early next year. Emmanuel Macron, through government spokesperson Maud Bregeon, stated that this measure « is not satisfactory » but necessary, and emphasized the need to « provide a budget to the nation as soon as possible, in January. » Prime Minister Lecornu reiterated the goal of reducing the deficit below 5% by 2026, while funding national priorities. The bill was sent directly to the Senate from the Assembly without the need for a joint committee due to the identical agreement of both chambers. This exceptional procedure compensates for the lack of an initial budget bill, resulting from a parliamentary deadlock.
Tight Schedule for the Final 2026 Budget
Debates on the 2026 budget will resume in January. The finance committee of the Assembly is scheduled to meet on January 7 or 8, according to Éric Coquerel, the committee's chairman, rather than the initially proposed dates of January 5 or 6 by the government, to avoid overloading during the Christmas break. The public session review is set to begin on January 12, followed by a discussion in the Senate before a potential final reading in the Assembly. Sébastien Lecornu considers adoption possible « if political calculations are set aside. » Roland Lescure, the Minister of the Economy, hopes to « align by January » by picking up where the Senate left off, while taking into account financial and economic deadlines. The government rules out using Article 49.3 for this text. This special law thus offers a reprieve but urges Parliament to conclude quickly.
This content has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence. While we strive for accuracy, some nuances may differ from the original French version.
