Lecornu Government Confronts Immediate Challenge as 2026 Budget Faces Opposition
PARIS – Newly appointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government is entering a period of intense scrutiny as it prepares to present its 2026 budget, facing immediate threats of censure and calls for early legislative elections. The administration, barely formed, is navigating a deeply fractured political landscape where both the left and the far-right are signaling potential roadblocks to its agenda.
the core of the government’s financial plan hinges on securing broad parliamentary support, with Lecornu emphasizing that “support for the common base is the essential prerequisite.” A key component of revenue generation is a planned bill aimed at combating tax and social fraud, projected to yield 2.3 billion euros. However, details beyond this initiative remain sparse, as Lecornu is relying on consensus-building through parliamentary debate rather than imposing measures. In a departure from recent practice, Lecornu has stated he will not invoke Article 49.3 – a controversial mechanism allowing bills to pass without a vote – to ensure the budget’s adoption.
This strategy immediately faces opposition. Leftist parties have warned they will file a motion of censure as early as Tuesday,with Jean-Luc Mélenchon dismissing the government as “80 % LR and former LR ghosts.” Together, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally is increasingly vocal about demanding early legislative elections, with a party spokesperson criticizing the return of Bruno Le Maire to his post at the Ministry of Economy as “pathetic.” A potential alliance between the national Rally and leftist factions could trigger the collapse of the Lecornu government, making it the shortest-lived administration in the history of the Fifth Republic. Lecornu himself acknowledged the precariousness of the situation, stating, “If everything goes in the decor next week, we will not be able to say that I have not tried everything.”
