France adopts 2026 budget after two no-confidence votes fail | Politics News
France Passes 2026 Budget Amid Political Turbulence
Published February 2, 2026
France’s government has successfully passed its budget for 2026 following two failed no-confidence motions against Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s administration. This development may signal a period of relative stability for Lecornu’s minority government.
The budget, approved on Monday after four months of contentious negotiations, includes strategies aimed at reducing the national deficit and increasing military expenditures.
In a statement on the social media platform X, Lecornu declared, “France finally has a budget. A budget that makes clear choices and addresses essential priorities. A budget that contains public spending and does not raise taxes for households and businesses.”
The no-confidence motions put forth by opposition parties, including France Unbowed and the Greens, garnered 260 of the necessary 289 votes, while a motion from far-right factions received only 135 votes.
Budget discussions have intensely occupied French lawmakers for nearly two years, largely due to the financial instability following President Emmanuel Macron’s 2024 snap election, which resulted in a hung parliament amid urgent fiscal needs. These negotiations have also impacted two previous prime ministers, unsettled debt markets, and raised concerns among France’s European partners.
Lecornu, who faced a tumultuous ascent to power in October, managed to secure votes from Socialist Party members through specific concessions.
Focus on Reducing the Deficit
As part of the budget plan, measures are in place to reduce France’s deficit to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2026, down from 5.4 percent in 2025, a departure from an earlier goal of 4.7 percent.
The budget also introduces higher taxes on select businesses, projected to generate approximately €7.3 billion ($8.6 billion) in revenue for 2026. However, a proposed wealth tax targeting the ultra-rich did not gain sufficient support.
In addition to these measures, military spending will see an increase of €6.5 billion ($7.7 million), which Lecornu described as the “heart” of the budget. Meanwhile, the Socialists successfully negotiated provisions including a one-euro meal for students and a boost in top-up payments for low-income workers.
With these budgetary decisions now finalized, the French government aims to stabilize its financial framework while facing ongoing pressure from the European Union to manage its debt levels, which are among the highest in the bloc.
