PLF or PLFSS? In the Assembly or Senate? This is where we are in the debate over the 2026 budget

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National Assembly, in Paris, 5 November 2025. (XOSE BOUZAS / AFP)

National Assembly, in Paris, 5 November 2025. (XOSE BOUZAS / AFP)

Deputies on Wednesday completed their examination of the Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS), before continuing discussions on the Financing Bill (PLF), amid a parliamentary fall monopolized by budget discussions.

For lawmakers, the fast-paced budget marathon is far from over. After a two-day break in connection with the anniversary of the signing of the 1918 armistice, on the afternoon of Wednesday November 12 the deputies resumed the examination of the Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS), with the final part devoted to spending and in particular the examination of the suspension of pension reform.

At the Palais Bourbon, elected officials must wrap up debate before midnight, the constitutionally set deadline for the first reading of the Social Security bill. Then, whatever happens, the PLFSS will be forwarded to the Senate, “with amendments already decided by the National Assembly”recalled the Minister of Economy, Roland Lescure, on franceinfo. In the upper house of Parliament, the first debate of the PLFSS session is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19.

Simply put, deputies will see the return of the half-cycle Finance Bill (PLF), which they had set aside on November 4 to begin an examination of the “revenue” part of the PLFSS. They should once again settle the debate on revenue and expenditure on Sunday, November 23, as this coincides with the 40 days available to the National Assembly for the first reading of this text. To try to see clearly this complicated calendar, franceinfo offers you a timeline that discusses the examination of these two budget texts, with a focus on the public sessions, as part of the parliamentary meetings between the two chambers of Parliament.

Progress of examining the 2026 budget text

Lawmakers have until December 12 to pass the Social Security Financing Bill (PLFSS) and until December 23 to pass the Financing Bill (PLF).

  • The “revenue” part of the PLF is examined in the National Assembly

    From October 24 to November 4

    Click to see explanatory text

    At the National Assembly, the “revenue” portion of the PLF was debated in a public session starting Friday 24 October. The check was terminated, without a vote, on Tuesday, November 4, to make way for the Social Security budget. This will resume on Wednesday 12 November. The deputies mainly adopted a tax on unproductive wealth and multinational companies, but rejected the Zucman tax and the freezing of the income tax scale.

  • The “revenue” section of the PLFSS is examined in the National Assembly

    From 4 to 8 November

    Click to see explanatory text

    The portion of the Social Security budget dedicated to these revenues is examined from Tuesday, November 4 through Saturday, November 8. Adopted by a narrow majority, the budget provides, among other things, an increase in CSG on capital income, a reduction in employer contributions for overtime, and the establishment of a tax on hexane and alcoholic energy drinks.

  • The “costs” portion of the PLFSS was examined at the National Assembly

    From 8 to 12 November

    Click to see explanatory text

    Examination of the part relating to expenditure began after a vote approved the part earmarked for revenue, as for the finance bill. A solemn vote on the entire PLFSS must take place on Wednesday 12 November, but on condition that all articles have been checked. Otherwise, the text will be sent to the Senate in its original version, supplemented by amendments approved by the deputies.

  • The “revenue” portion of the PLF returns to the National Assembly

    From 12 to 17 November (in theory)

    Click to see explanatory text

    The deputies have not yet finished examining the “revenue” section of the financial bill before the PLFSS bracket, they are continuing the debate where they left off on November 4.

  • The “expenditure” portion of the PLF is vetted in the National Assembly

    Starting November 17 (in theory)

    Click to see explanatory text

    That is of course checked after the “revenue” section of the Finance Bill, aka APBN. On the National Assembly website, the debate was supposed to take place from Monday, November 17, but could be delayed if discussions on the first part continued. According to constitutional deadlines, the National Assembly must vote on the entire text by Sunday, November 23.

  • The PLFSS was vetted in the Senate

    From 19 to 25 November (in theory)

    Click to see explanatory text

    The PLFSS passes the Senate, “subject to its timely delivery by the National Assembly.” From Wednesday 19 November to Tuesday 25 November, in theory, senators should examine the “revenue” and “expenditure” sections of this text, based on the copy released from the National Assembly.

  • The PLF will be elected through a vote in the National Assembly

    November 24 (in theory)

    Click to see explanatory text

    The solemn vote of the PLF deputies is scheduled for Monday, November 24, after a month of examination in public sessions.

  • The PLFSS is the subject of a joint joint commission

    Starting November 26 (in theory)

    Click to see explanatory text

    Barring a miracle, senators’ copies of the Social Security budget should be different from deputies’ copies of the budget. We therefore need a joint committee, consisting of seven deputies and seven senators, to try to reach a compromise quickly.

  • The PLF is examined in the Senate

    From November 26 to December 12 (in theory)

    Click to see explanatory text

    Once the PLF is adopted or not on first reading in the National Assembly, it is forwarded to the Senate so that the elected representatives of the upper house can examine it in turn.

  • The PLFSS must be adopted by Parliament

    No later than December 12

    Click to see explanatory text

    Time is running out, because Parliament must make a decision within 50 days after submitting the text, namely no later than December 12 at midnight. “Otherwise, PLFSS can be adopted based on regulations”wrote the site Vie-publique.fr. The government will then choose what to include in this Social Security budget.

  • The PLF is the subject of a joint joint commission

    Starting December 13 (in theory)

    Click to see explanatory text

    As with the PLFSS, deputies and senators should work on a common version of the PLF, through a joint committee that reflects the political balance in each chamber.

  • The PLF must be adopted by Parliament

    No later than December 23

    Click to see explanatory text

    The constitutional deadline to adopt the PLF expired on Tuesday, December 23, after 70 days of scrutiny by Parliament. Here too, as with PLFSS, the government can proceed by order after this time limit has passed.