The French government is poised to use a rarely used constitutional weapon to force its budget through parliament, where opposition groups have been stalling the text with competing amendments for weeks, officials said on Tuesday.

The impasse underscores President Emmanuel Macron’s weakened position since his center party lost a majority in last spring’s general election, just weeks after his own re-election.

Government spokesman Olivier Veran said Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne would “probably” invoke Article 49.3 of the constitution on Wednesday, which would end the debate and pass the 2023 budget without a vote.

“For now, we will see how the debates progress,” Veran told France 2 TV channel after several stormy sessions since last week.

If Article 49.3 is used, opponents of the far left and far right are expected to call for a vote of no confidence to force the government’s resignation.

That vote is highly unlikely to happen, however, as conservative Republicans have already said they will not join an attempt to overthrow the Macron administration.

But opponents across the political spectrum have taken up the budget fight, forcing changes such as a tax on corporate “superdividends” and a new “exit tax” on people moving wealth out of France – which Macron abolished in his first term.

It is also preparing a larger battle over Macron’s pension reform, which would reset the retirement age to 64 or 65, which he plans to enact in the coming months.

Recourse to Article 49.3 would expose Macron to accusations of ruthless treatment of Parliament, despite his vow last month to more inclusive governance and “broad national consultation” on “crucial decisions”.

His government seems aware of the risk, which comes at a time of growing public dissatisfaction with rising inflation.

“We have to give this debate a chance, especially since the French don’t really like the 49.3. These tools, such as requisitions, should be used with caution,” Borne told MPs in Macron’s Renaissance party on Tuesday, an attendee.

Last week, the government ordered striking TotalEnergies refinery workers back to work at some tank terminals to ease shortages that are causing huge waits at petrol stations across the country.

Veran went on to say such “demands” could come if the strike continues, but declined to comment on workers’ demands for a 10 percent pay rise, saying “it’s not for the government to get involved in labor debates in to interfere with a private company”.