Lescure believes the special law had a "fairly strong" impact on GDP.

The slight decline in GDP in the first quarter "is partly due to exceptional factors: the mild winter, which resulted in lower energy consumption, lower than usual Airbus exports, but also - and I insist on this - the undoubtedly quite strong impact of the special law," the minister told the press on the sidelines of a meeting of G7 digital ministers at Bercy.

"As you know, for two months France had no budget. A number of public policies were suspended. This is the case, for example, of Ma Prime Rénov'. As a result, household investment in the first quarter fell," added Mr. Lescure.

"This is, I think, a lesson for all of us, especially at a time when we are starting to look towards preparing the 2027 budget. The special law is not an option, it prevents the deployment of public policies and, as we see in a very concrete way, it can have a negative impact on activity," he stressed.

French GDP fell by 0,1% in the first quarter compared to the last quarter of 2025, INSEE indicated in its detailed results on Friday, which had initially announced zero growth from January to March.

Both domestic demand and foreign trade weighed on growth in the first quarter.

Mr. Lescure was speaking at a time when the government, which is working on preparing the 2027 budget, would like to avoid a special law.

The latter makes it possible to compensate for the lack of a budget, by carrying over the revenues of the previous year and by committing to expenditures necessary for the continuity of the State.

Minister for Public Accounts David Amiel stated that a special law extended until the 2027 presidential election "would seriously endanger the country." He tasked the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF) with studying the economic consequences of such a scenario.