04:56 (03:56)⇢The Bitter Budget Decree
⌨French editors are concentrating on Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's confirmation of the use of Article 49.3 to pass the 2026 budget (20 Minutes, BFMTV, Le Monde, Le Parisien, Le Figaro, L'Humanité, Valeurs Actuelles). Despite previous pledges to avoid this mechanism, the executive justifies it as a necessity to maintain a 5% deficit, while taxing large corporations to avoid household tax hikes (Le Parisien). Opposition parties LFI and RN have announced immediate motions of censure (Le Monde).