French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced yesterday a series of amendments to his draft 2026 budget, seeking to win the backing of the Socialist Party with steps to boost the income of poorer workers, students and pensioners.
After three months of talks in parliament on the budget failed to yield an agreement, ministers in Lecornu’s government had said he would announce updated budget plans, but also that he had no choice but to bypass parliament and that he would soon announce how he would do that.
Instead, Lecornu said he still wanted to try and strike a deal with other parties.
“I want to say it clearly: we will not give up on reaching a compromise. And we will continue to work with the parliamentary groups that have the courage to put the general interest above their partisan interests,” he said in an address to the nation.
“This is the moment of great clarification for every political force. And for the government, it is the time to set new budgetary directions to avoid a deadlock.”
Lecornu did not say how he would pass that new budget and whether he would still opt eventually to bypass parliament.
Among the steps announced, Lecornu said the new draft budget would no longer cut a tax rebate on pensions, and that a monthly income supplement benefit for low-income workers would rise by some 50 euros per month for some 3 million households.
Cheap meals for students in university canteens would be extended, and steps would also be taken to boost affordable housing.
The budget deficit would be no higher than 5 per cent of GDP, and would possibly be lower, Lecornu added.
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