French PM urges lawmakers to pass 2027 budget, warns of 'disorder' if delayed

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has issued an urgent plea to parliamentarians to approve a budget for 2027, warning that failure to do so before the presidential election year could plunge the country into financial disarray.

In a letter addressed to lawmakers, Lecornu stated that delaying the budget's approval until after the election would be "choosing disorder." He cautioned that a rise in interest rates would place a lasting burden on the state and the economy. The government requires support from various political factions to pass the budget.

Should the Parliament not vote on the budget before the end of the year, France's Constitution allows for a 'special law.' This measure would enable the administration to continue operating but with severe restrictions. Lecornu emphasized that this 'special law' is not a substitute for a budget and serves only as a temporary safety net.

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Choosing to wait for the presidential election to approve a budget for 2027 is choosing disorder. A rise in our interest rates would weigh durably on the state and our economy.

He further warned that prolonged reliance on this temporary measure would paralyze key sectors such as defense, construction, agriculture, and research. This delay could cost the next five-year term months of progress and potentially doom it before it begins. Lecornu assured that the proposed budget would include "structural savings" that would not involve "blind cuts" harming public services without reform.

The government faces a delicate political landscape, with limited allies in the National Assembly. While the far-right and radical left have opposed the government, the Socialist Party's abstention is seen as the most likely path to approval, a strategy previously used for the current year's budget. The absence of an approved budget in an election year, particularly with presidential elections scheduled for April and May 2027, could exacerbate the usual volatility by limiting the state's ability to respond to crises.

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This 'special law' is not a budget, only a temporary safety net. If prolonged, it would paralyze numerous sectors like defense, construction, agriculture or research. It would cause the loss of several months for the next five-year term and could condemn it before it has even begun.