politics

In the Absence of a Budget, a Special Law to Start the Year 2026

December 19, 2025 Le Monde
In the Absence of a Budget, a Special Law to Start the Year 2026

No budget for 2026, a special law adopted to start the year.

SUMMARY

Facing the failure of the joint committee to draft a 2026 budget, the government adopts a special law to ensure funding of essential expenses and start the year 2026 without blockage.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

  • Failure of the joint committee to agree on a 2026 budget
  • Adoption of a special law in place of the budget
  • Objective: ensure continuity of public services in 2026

CORE SUBJECT

Adoption of a special law due to lack of budget for 2026

For Christmas, the political menu will be the same as in December 2024, somewhat dry: no budget, a meager "special law" as a substitute. After the failure on Friday, December 19, of the joint committee supposed to draft a compromise budget for 2026, the government acknowledged this deadlock. Due to the lack of agreement, it decided to resort to a special law to allow the start of the year 2026, thus avoiding an institutional and financial blockage. This special law, although limited, aims to ensure the continuity of public services and the financing of essential expenses until a full budget can be adopted. This situation reflects ongoing political tensions and difficulties in reaching a budgetary consensus within Parliament.

KEYWORDS

budget special law government 2026 joint committee

KEY DECISIONS 1

Adoption of a special law to start the year 2026 in the absence of a budget

Decision Maker: French Government
Status: in force
Announced: 2025-12-19
Effective: 2026-01-01
Impact Areas:
public finances public services