France has approved its 2026 budget after two no-confidence motions failed, allowing the legislation to pass and offering short-term stability for the minority government led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
The vote followed four months of political deadlock triggered by the 2024 snap election, which produced a hung parliament amid growing pressure to rein in public finances.
Motions brought by France Unbowed, the Greens, and other left-wing parties fell short of the 289 votes required to remove the government.
Key developments
• Deficit target set at 5% of GDP in 2026, down from 5.4% in 2025
• Additional €7.3bn in taxes on some businesses
• €6.5bn increase in military spending, described as the budget’s core priority
• Social measures include €1 student meals and higher support for low-income workers
The budget comes as France faces EU scrutiny over its high debt-to-GDP ratio.
ℹ️ Al Jazeera
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