French Parliament Moves to Defund Controversial National Service Program

Despite government support, the Service National Universel faces potential termination after critical votes by both legislative chambers.

The French National Assembly and Senate have voted in their respective finance committees to defund the Service National Universel (SNU) in the 2025 budget.
Critics, including members of the left and centrist parties, argue that the SNU is costly and ineffective, calling it a 'presidential gadget' that fails to meet its objectives.
The government, while acknowledging financial constraints, insists on continuing the SNU experiment, citing its benefits for youth engagement.
The program, introduced by President Macron in 2019, aimed to be generalized by 2026 but now faces significant opposition due to high costs and lack of social diversity.
A report by the Cour des Comptes highlighted the SNU's financial burden, estimating annual costs between 3.5 and 5 billion euros, and criticized its implementation challenges.