Dirongrong Protests Budget Cut, French PM Wants Compromic Parliament

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu/DOK PHOTO: Service d'information du Government

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu rejected the use of special constitutional powers to pass the budget through parliament without voting, thus imposing responsibility on lawmakers to agree on a compromise.

As reported by Reuters, Friday, October 3, Lecornu's promise comes ahead of important negotiations with its political rivals - the extreme right-wing National Reli Party (RN) and the Socialist Party - regarding how to ratify the 2026 budget that has been streamlined.

This is a complicated legislative balance measure that could lead to his dismissal.

The two parties welcomed Lecornu's decision, but said it was not enough. The new prime minister is said to have to do more if they want them to agree not to vote for it.

Lecornu, who last month became President Emmanuel Macron's fifth prime minister in two years, has held complicated talks with party leaders and trade unions to find a way to pass the budget through a highly fragmented parliament.

"In a functioning parliament that has just been updated and reflects the face of France you can't just force something," Lecornu said in his first televised address since being appointed by Macron three weeks ago.

A special clause in article 49.3 of the constitution allows prime ministers to skip voting and pass draft laws through parliament, but leaves them vulnerable to no confidence motion that could bring down the government.

This clause has been criticized for being considered disrespectful to lawmakers and undemocratic, but Lecornu's predecessors often use it to pass complicated laws.

By refusing to use it, Lecornu is cornering parliamentary camps, forcing lawmakers to find compromises related to the budget.

"What surprised me was that behind the closed door of my office, compromise was possible, serious discussion, and always sincere," Lecornu said.

Lecornu doesn't talk much about substance, but says he's open to "improving" unpopular pension reforms and making taxes fairer can be discussed.

Olivier Faure, chairman of the Socialist Party, which is key to Lecornu's fate, said in addition to his promise, his party wanted to know if he was willing to meet his main demands, such as voting in parliament to change pension reforms, which were adopted thanks to 49.3 procedures.