In the night of November 21 to 22, 2025, the French National Assembly rejected the revenue part of the 2026 finance bill almost unanimously, with 404 votes against and one in favor. Only MP Harold Huwart (Liot) voted yes, while oppositions and part of the majority opposed or abstained. The government's original text will be sent to the Senate next week.
The vote took place in the night from Friday to Saturday, dealing a blow to Sébastien Lecornu's government. With 404 votes against, 84 abstentions, and one in favor, the entire left, Rassemblement national, Republicans, and most Horizons deputies rejected the text. Only a few Renaissance members abstained. Harold Huwart, Liot deputy from Eure-et-Loir, explained his sole yes vote: 'I want a budget for France. I don't understand the logic by which you find a majority on each article and unanimity against the text. It's unheard of, unprecedented. Fortunately, ridicule doesn't kill, or we'd have 577 deaths to mourn,' he told AFP.
This first-reading rejection annuls all amendments adopted during a month of debates, restoring the mid-October original project. Among the measures scrapped: an unproductive wealth tax (RN, MoDem, PS), a tax on multinationals (LFI, 26 billion euros expected), GAFAM tax increase, and option to raise secondary residence tax. Conversely, government provisions removed return, such as the 10% pension tax abatement reform (1.2 billion euros), income tax bracket freeze affecting 200,000 households (2 billion), and cuts to school fees and long-term illness benefits niches.
Minister for Public Action and Accounts, Amélie de Montchalin, acknowledged the rejection but refuses resignation: 'I will not give in to resignation. We are only halfway through the parliamentary shuttle.' She notes the Social Security budget revenue part was adopted. The Senate, dominated by right and center, will review the text from Tuesday. A joint committee will follow to seek compromise, but without agreement by end-December, the government may resort to a special law before December 19 to extend the current budget, avoiding a 'shutdown.' Sébastien Lecornu opposes ordinances. The tight schedule, with Senate vote no earlier than December 15, complicates agreement before Christmas.
