14:40⇢Socialists Clear Bayrou's Budget Path
⌨The newspapers extensively report on Prime Minister Bayrou's use of Article 49.3 to pass the budget, with the Socialist Party's bureau national deciding against supporting the censure motion (BFMTV, France TV Info, Le Monde, Le Figaro, L'Express, Libération). In parallel, tobacco retailers protest against a 28% volume loss due to black market sales (20 Minutes), while filmmaker Christophe Ruggia receives a four-year sentence, including two years under electronic monitoring, for sexual assault on minor actress Adèle Haenel (Mediapart, L'Obs).