PARIS – Outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu continued “final negotiations” on Tuesday in a last attempt to form a government and secure a 2026 budget deal before year’s end.
Speaking briefly in the morning, Lecornu welcomed “good news,” citing “a shared determination among France’s political forces to ensure the country has a budget before 31 December.”
The draft Finance Bill must be tabled in the National Assembly by 13 October to clear it for 2026, triggering a mandatory 70-day period for debate and amendments.
Since yesterday, Lecornu is meeting all parliamentary groups except the far-right National Rally (RN) and the far-left France Unbowed (LFI), both of which declined to take part.
Following these talks, the Prime Minister noted “movement” and “points of convergence,” which he said “reduce the likelihood of dissolution.”
Seeking to ease tensions with the Socialist Party (PS), former Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne – who oversaw the contested 2023 pension reform – said she was open to a “suspension” of the measure to facilitate a compromise.
However, Socialist leader Olivier Faure – who signaled readiness to help “resolve this crisis” earlier – did not hide his disappointment after meeting with Lecornu on Wednesday.
“We have no assurance about the actual suspension of the pension reform,” Faure lamented noting that at this stage, “no one can guarantee that it will actually happen”.
In 2023, the reform notably raised the legal retirement age from 62 to 64. Faure specified that his party had requested that the suspension “not simply freeze the legal age” but also “reverse the accelerated extension of contribution periods.”
Lecornu is expected to brief President Emmanuel Macron this evening on “the solutions currently on the table.” Macron had tasked him with conducting final talks to form a government and avoid another political deadlock. Should those efforts fail, the president has said he stands ready “to take responsibility.”
This article has been updated with political leaders’ reactions.
(cs)