Govt rushes to avert budget shutdown

French lawmakers yesterday scrambled to pass emergency legislation to keep the state running in January until a proper 2026 budget can be approved by the country's deeply divided parliament.

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Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu rushed to submit the legislation late on Monday after lawmakers from both houses failed last Friday to hammer out a compromise 2026 budget text over divisions about spending cuts and tax hikes.

The law, which looked set to be passed yesterday, will allow the state to roll over 2025 spending limits into the new year and to collect taxes and issue debt.