French Premier Won’t Use Constitutional Tool to Force Budget Through

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has announced that he will not use a controversial constitutional tool to force the budget through the National Assembly. The tool, known as Article 49.3, allows the government to bypass parliament and adopt a law without a vote. Lecornu's decision comes amid political tensions in France, where the government lacks a majority in the National Assembly. The prime minister's announcement suggests a desire to seek a more collaborative approach to passing the budget, rather than resorting to the divisive Article 49.3. The decision not to use the constitutional tool is seen as a conciliatory gesture towards opposition parties, who had criticized the government's potential use of Article 49.3 as an undemocratic and authoritarian measure. This move by the prime minister could help to de-escalate the political situation and pave the way for a more inclusive budget negotiation process.