Overview
- Lawmakers from both chambers meet Friday in a joint committee to seek a single compromise text.
- The Senate passed its own version with spending cuts that worsen the projected deficit compared with the lower house plan.
- The National Assembly is slated to deliver a final verdict on Dec. 23 after its initial attempt collapsed with near-unanimous opposition.
- If no deal emerges, the government could push an emergency rollover of 2025 appropriations, as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu maintains he will not use Article 49.3 to force passage.
- Parliament approved the 2026 social security budget, pausing the 2023 retirement-age increase until 2027, as the government targets a 2026 deficit below 5% of GDP.