Public accounts minister Amélie de Montchalin frames the upcoming special budget law as a minimal service, while the next full budget will include some tax increases.

She warns that January 1st brings immediate consequences if no agreement is reached, signaling a shift from pure parliamentary debate to timely resolution.

Delaying the budget could push the public toward disengagement or extremist support, so timely action is urged to preserve trust and prevent an 'année en pause.'

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will convene top political figures to seek consensus on the budget, with consultations already underway and input from leaders Gabriel Attal and Paul Christophe.

De Montchalin stresses that budget credibility comes from compromise on core priorities like housing, defense, narcotics control, and agriculture.

France must vote its 2026 budget before the end of January to avoid direct citizen impacts, according to De Montchalin on BFMTV.

She warns that gridlock among governing parties could boost extremist influence if essential crisis measures aren’t agreed, a scenario she wants to avert.

France faces a budget impasse after the failed 2026 finance-law adoption and aims to approve a full budget by the end of January.

In the absence of a full budget, the government is preparing a ‘special law’ as a minimal fallback, described as a service minimum.

The forthcoming financial bill is expected to include certain tax increases.