France's National Assembly Narrowly Passes Social Security Budget, Suspends Pension Reform Amid Political Tensions

December 16, 2025
France's National Assembly Narrowly Passes Social Security Budget, Suspends Pension Reform Amid Political Tensions
  • Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu secured passage through concessions, gains from the Socialist Party, and fluctuating support from LR and Horizons, amid opposition from La France insoumise and the National Rally.

  • The National Assembly ultimately adopted the 2026 Social Security budget after a tense, drawn‑out process that included a motion of rejection and last‑minute negotiations; the Senate could not agree on a key provision.

  • Labor and party reactions to the suspension are mixed, highlighting divisions over the reform’s fate and its policy implications.

  • France’s National Assembly approved the social security budget by a narrow margin, 247 votes to 232, while suspending the 2023 pension reform that would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

  • If the CMP reaches an agreement but the Assembly rejects it, the government risks a defeat; Lecornu emphasizes avoiding that scenario.

  • The broader context includes the Senate’s revised budget and ongoing CMP talks to finalize the state budget, with a possible special law if CMP fails and timing shifts for final Parliament deliberations.

  • Negotiations on the broader state budget center on revenue measures and fiscal justice, with a cross‑chamber CMP (mixed committee) aiming to seal an agreement by week’s end, though compromise remains uncertain.

  • Coverage portrays the process as high‑stakes and time‑sensitive, with final decisions shaped by cross‑party concessions and political calculations.

  • Political dynamics feature Socialists offering abstention or support only on acceptable terms, Ecologists opposing the budget, and potential use of 49.3 or a special law if CMP fails as deadlines loom.

  • Access to full content is restricted to subscribers, indicating premium analysis behind a paywall.

  • The article’s paywall means details rely on Le Figaro’s subscription coverage.

  • If parliament fails to agree by year‑end, the government can extend the current budget temporarily to avoid a lapse in funding.

Summary based on 11 sources


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