Particle.news
Download on the App Store

French Assembly Poised for Razor-Thin Vote on 2026 Social Security Budget

Socialist backing after last‑minute concessions leaves the outcome to a handful of undecided deputies.

Overview

  • The National Assembly votes this afternoon in second reading on the PLFSS, with senior figures saying the result could hinge on just two or three votes.
  • Latest media tallies suggest a bit more than 250 deputies ready to support the bill and around 240 opposed, with several still uncommitted.
  • The government won Socialist support after scrapping a pension freeze and proposing late amendments to lift the health‑spending target (ONDAM) to 3% and add €100 million for overseas healthcare.
  • La France Insoumise and the National Rally plan to vote against, Horizons is steered toward abstention, and Les Républicains are divided, leaving Greens and other swing deputies pivotal.
  • Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has ruled out using Article 49.3, and ministers warn that failure would push the 2026 Social Security deficit to roughly €29–30 billion versus €19.6 billion in the bill.