France says parliament approval of budget 'impossible'

The eurozone's second-largest economy has been bogged down in political crisis since President Emmanuel Macron called snap polls in 2024, in which he lost his majority. In a bid to survive being toppled by parliament like his two predecessors, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu last year pledged to seek parliament approval for a 2026 austerity budget -- and not ram it through without a vote. He managed to get a bill on social security spending approved by year end, but lawmakers have failed to reach a compromise on state expenses.