It's the million dollar question that may decide the fate of French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu: how to tax France's billionaires?

The Socialists want a 2% wealth tax on France's 0.01% in the 2026 budget as the price for their support, making Lecornu's political survival contingent on a measure that has massive public support but alienates his right-wing opponents.

Lecornu, a Macron loyalist who last week became France's fifth prime minister in less than two years, is racing to draft a budget, which is due to be sent to lawmakers by Oct. 7.