The National Assembly's finance committee rejected the 'expenses' section of the 2026 budget on Saturday, following the dismissal of the 'revenues' part the previous day. Discussions, plagued by absenteeism, failed to reach agreement, widening the public deficit. The government still aims for adoption by month's end to keep the deficit below 5%.
On Saturday, January 10, National Assembly deputies in the finance committee voted against the 'expenses' section of the 2026 state budget in a new reading. This rejection followed the dismissal of the 'revenues' section on Friday. The Rassemblement national (RN), La France insoumise (LFI), Ecologist and social, and Droite républicaine groups opposed the text, while socialists (PS), Les Démocrates, and the Ensemble pour la République (Renaissance) group abstained. Several other groups, including Libertés, indépendants, outre-mer et territoires, Horizons, Union des droites pour la République, and Gauche démocrate et républicaine, were absent during the vote.
The text reviewed a version adopted by the Senate in December, after the failure of first-reading discussions. The committee debates, which are advisory, took place since Thursday amid notable absenteeism and did not clarify prospects for a non-censure pact between the government and the PS, particularly in case of using article 49.3 or an ordinance.
General rapporteur Philippe Juvin (Les Républicains) proposed a 'general shave' to cut credits across all budget missions except regalian functions, targeting 6.2 billion euros in savings. No majority emerged, as deputies rejected cuts to education and ecology—PS priorities—as well as to health, sports, and external state action. By adopting the Senate version plus amendments, expenses rose by 6.8 billion euros, pushing the deficit to 5.3%, or even 5.4% accounting for missed revenues since December 31, according to Mr. Juvin.
The government, led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, upholds its goal of a budget passed by late January, enabling a deficit below 5% and increased defense spending. Meanwhile, Mr. Lecornu informed agricultural unions that the additional 300 million euros in aid promised by Minister Annie Genevard will only fully apply after budget adoption. The government also faces two censure motions from LFI and RN, tied to the adoption of the EU-Mercosur treaty, opposed by farmers and not blocked in Brussels.
These debates will continue in the hemicycle starting Tuesday and theoretically until January 23.
