French budget deadlock nears end as Prime Minister chooses to bypass parliamentary vote.

French Prime Minister Sbastien Le Cornu stated that he will use constitutional tools to pass the 2026 budget without a parliamentary vote, demonstrating that he has enough support in parliament and is likely to pass a vote of no confidence that may follow. After months of negotiations with the opposition party failed to reach an agreement in the National Assembly, Le Cornu will invoke Article 49.3 of the constitution to pass a revised budget. Le Cornu had previously ruled out the possibility of using this mechanism because it is unpopular among opposition members, who had previously worked together to force his two predecessors out of office during budget disputes.