Following the National Assembly's narrow approval last week, the French Senate rejected the 2026 Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) on Friday via a procedural motion, sending it back for a final Assembly vote on Tuesday. The rejection underscores right-wing and centrist opposition to the bill's deficit reduction approach.
In the ongoing legislative process for the 2026 PLFSS—narrowly adopted by the National Assembly on December 9 without Article 49.3—the Senate, led by the right and centrists, outright rejected the bill on December 12 through a 'question préalable' motion, concluding debate in under a morning.
Centrist rapporteur Elisabeth Doineau called further shuttle negotiations pointless, labeling the text a Senate 'failure' for relying on revenue increases rather than spending cuts. Senators criticized key concessions like suspending pension reform until 2028 (to secure Socialist support), lifting benefit freezes, and raising CSG on certain capital income.
Republicans leader Bruno Retailleau decried a 'fiscal hold-up,' while Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin defended the plan to cut the deficit from 23 billion euros in 2025 to 19.4 billion in 2026, including 4.5 billion in state transfers. The Senate had targeted 17.6 billion in its first reading.
The bill now returns to the Assembly for a decisive vote on December 16, amid uncertainty. Separately, the state budget remains under Senate scrutiny until Monday.
