Debates on the 2026 finance bill at the National Assembly drag on without addressing high patrimony taxation, as the pension reform suspension begins scrutiny in committee. Socialists, led by Olivier Faure, threaten a censure motion if no fiscal justice concessions are made. The right firmly opposes the pension suspension, vowing to restore it.
Debates on the 2026 budget at the National Assembly, started Friday October 24, have already adopted several costly amendments for public finances. On Friday and Saturday, deputies rejected the freeze on the income tax scale, which would have made 200,000 additional households taxable, and validated full defiscalization of overtime hours. These measures will deprive the state of several billion euros in revenue, moving away from the government's goal of saving 30 billion next year.
Meanwhile, the social security financing bill (PLFSS), including the suspension of the pension reform decided by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on Tuesday to avoid socialist censure, begins examination Monday in the social affairs committee. The Droite républicaine group announces its intention to remove this measure. « We are against the suspension of the pension reform. We will therefore do everything to oppose it. We are not here to integrate the PS blackmail », declared Laurent Wauquiez to Le Figaro. Senate President Gérard Larcher promised that the upper house « will restore the pension reform ».
Socialists seek another win after pensions by pushing the Zucman tax: a 2% minimum tax on patrimonies over 100 million euros. Olivier Faure, on LCI Sunday, warned: « We will know if we are heading to dissolution by the end of the week », calling rejection of this tax a « casus belli ». An alternative version proposes 3% from 10 million euros, excluding innovative and family businesses, to raise 5 to 7 billion. Faure stresses the need for 15 to 20 billion from high patrimonies to spare middle classes.
Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin announced Saturday that certain priority articles will be examined Monday, delaying the Zucman tax. Mathilde Panot (LFI) denounces a « game of dupes » in PS-central bloc negotiations, criticizing the socialists' alliance shift. Debates, under tension, could lead to a censure motion and dissolution if no compromise emerges.
