French Assembly Approves 2026 Social Security Budget Narrowly

The French National Assembly narrowly approved the 2026 social security budget on Tuesday, marking a significant victory for Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his minority government amid ongoing political fragmentation.

The bill passed with 247 votes in favor, 234 against and 93 abstentions, avoiding the use of Article 49.3, a constitutional mechanism that would have allowed the government to force adoption without a vote. The outcome came after weeks of intense negotiations and a final day of concessions, reflecting the challenges of governing without a parliamentary majority. Lecornu, appointed in September following the collapse of previous administrations over budget disputes, described the result as a demonstration of compromise in the general interest.

Support for the measure came primarily from lawmakers in President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Renaissance party, its MoDem allies, the Socialist Party and the cross-party LIOT group. Abstentions from most Greens, some members of the conservative Les Républicains and the center-right Horizons party proved decisive in securing the slim 13-vote margin. Opposition was led by the far-right National Rally and its allies, the...