France clears 2026 budget after political brinkmanship

France's 2026 state budget passes after a months-long deadlock, with PM Sébastien Lecornu using a constitutional clause to bypass a parliamentary vote. The minority government survived several no-confidence motions as the Socialist Party abstained in exchange for concessions, pushing the projected deficit to about 5% of GDP (up from 4.7%). The budget, rolled over from last year, will take effect after a Constitutional Court review.