Budget 2027: Jordan Bardella calls for an “urgent” vote for a “golden rule” in the Constitution

The day after the rejection of the 2027 draft budget in the Assembly, Jordan Bardella requested on Thursday, November 5, the examination and "rapid" vote of a law to establish within "a few weeks" a "golden rule" in the Constitution to stem the increase in France's debt. This “golden rule” would take up the “principle” already stated by the RN candidate for the Élysée, Marine Le Pen, namely “that no budget can be voted on if it increases the level of debt of the country”, specifies Jordan Bardella in a video broadcast on his social networks.

The objective of this measure would be to create “a shock of confidence” after the unanimous vote of deputies Wednesday evening against the finance bill for 2027, which “testifies to a regime in complete collapse” according to the president of the National Rally. The circumstances therefore make it “necessary to accelerate the timetable and to urgently vote on this golden rule”, he continues, before asking “solemnly to the government to urgently register a constitutional bill to this effect”.

With the ambition to succeed within a tight timetable, since he believes that “a rapid vote by Parliament, followed by a vote by Congress after its convocation by the President of the Republic, would make it possible to have within a few weeks a clear budgetary framework to bring the 2027 budget to fruition”. Or precisely the procedure described in article 89 of the Constitution, which provides that the fundamental law can only be modified by a text of law adopted in identical terms by the Assembly and the Senate, then validated by referendum, or by a three-fifths majority of the two chambers meeting in Congress. Which does not prevent the RN from claiming to modify the Constitution directly by referendum if it gains power, in particular to enshrine its flagship proposals aimed at restricting immigration.

For the moment, his initiative cannot prosper without support from other parties, Jordan Bardella also called on “all political leaders” sharing his analysis to “join their voices” to those of the RN to push the executive to “speak to Parliament as quickly as possible on this essential subject”. Among those most likely to respond favorably, the LR candidate, Bruno Retailleau, also wanted a referendum to be held “before the end of the year” on the introduction of a budgetary “golden rule” in the Constitution, which would limit the possibilities of a deficit.

Last spring, Édouard Philippe also expressed the ambition to have this golden rule included in the Constitution, following a referendum, in the weeks following the presidential election. The expression was also taken up by the Renaissance candidate, Gabriel Attal, who wants to establish “a double golden rule” so that “within 10 years, any budget (must) be voted in balance” but also to “spend less on current (and) social expenses, and more for the future and for education”.