France Clears Budget Hurdle, Stabilizing a Turbulent Year

France’s minority government, led by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, finally pushed through a state budget after months of gridlock and no‑confidence votes, using Article 49.3 to proceed despite opposition; the budget, now subject to constitutional review, aims to stabilize governance, increase some social benefits and a minimum-wage bonus to win Socialist support, and gives President Macron breathing room, though the parliament remains deeply divided with far-left and far-right factions still opposing the measures.