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French National assembly rejects key budget component as bill moves to senate
France’s National Assembly overwhelmingly rejected the revenue portion of the 2026 budget on Saturday, deepening uncertainty over whether a politically fractured parliament can agree on deficit-cutting measures before the year’s end. The rejected section, focused primarily on taxation, now passes to the Senate for further examination.
After more than 120 hours of tense debate, senators are expected to remove many of the amendments adopted by the lower house. For the budget to pass without the government relying on special constitutional mechanisms, both chambers must reach an agreement. Once the Senate completes its review, a joint committee will attempt to reconcile the two versions of the bill.
Finance Minister Roland Lescure expressed confidence that a compromise remains possible, noting that the legislative process is only halfway through. He insisted that most parliamentary groups could still identify “common ground” to deliver a stable budget for 2026.
Budget negotiations have been particularly strained since President Emmanuel Macron lost his absolute majority in last year’s snap elections, creating persistent instability. A dispute over the 2025 budget previously led to a no-confidence vote that toppled Michel Barnier’s cabinet.
This year, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has pledged not to invoke Article 49.3 — the government’s special power to force a budget through — granting lawmakers unusual freedom to shape the bill but also increasing the risk of deadlock.
One decisive element will be the stance of the Socialist Party, which holds enough seats to tip the balance. Their final decision on whether to reject or abstain is closely tied to the government’s offer to suspend a controversial pension reform.
According to the constitution, if parliament fails to finalize the budget by early December, the government retains the authority to adopt it by decree.
