Debate over the Social Security budget for 2026 stalled Wednesday evening in the Assembly, as deputies excluded certain important topics such as the suspension of pension reform, but without voting on the entire text, much to the dismay of some left-wing groups.
“Prolonging our debate will only harm the parliamentary process and the Senate’s vetting conditions,” argued Parliamentary Relations Minister Laurent Panifous shortly after midnight, while nearly 200 amendments remained to be vetted.
A “disguised 49.3”, for LFI group president Mathilde Panot. The National Rally group, chaired by Marine Le Pen, sees it as “a step towards implementing a rules-based Social Security budget.” The bill, a version of which has been largely revised by the Assembly, will now go to the Senate, possibly in committee on Saturday, and in the mid-cycle on November 19.
After leaving 49.3, Sébastien Lecornu bet on a deal with MPs, and especially PS. This has sometimes come at the cost of major concessions, including the “suspension” of pension reform, a symbol of Emmanuel Macron’s second five-year term. A half-successful gamble: the draft budget remains on track but has not yet been voted on in the Assembly, and its final implementation before December 31 remains highly uncertain.
The featured article adopted on Wednesday by socialist groups, environmentalists, the RN and some in the government camp, delays until January 2028 the journey to the legal retirement age of 64, and increases the number of quarters that must be contributed. Unless there is a new law, implementation of the reform will continue, with a delay of a quarter.
The government has expanded coverage, especially for those in long-term careers, but several deputies asked him to confirm the number of beneficiaries. The concessions will increase costs expected to reach 300 million in 2026 and 1.9 billion in 2027, according to executives.
The vote divided the left: most socialists and ecologists were in favor, while Insoumis and communists were mostly against. Olivier Faure, PS first secretary, hailed the “important victory”. Deputy PS Jérôme Guedj said he was “surprised by the convolution” of left-wing deputies. On the contrary, a “fraud” according to Manuel Bompard, LFI coordinator Mathilde Panot, denouncing the difference, is equivalent to “choosing to retire at 64”.
20 days to decide
The presidential camp is also divided. Renaissance deputies largely abstained, the Ministry of Democracy was divided between supporting and abstaining, and LR between supporting, opposing and abstaining, with the majority opposing the suspension. Horizons clearly rejected it.
The cessation of debate was not a surprise, as the government had been anticipating article 47-1 of the Constitution for several days. The provision states that the Assembly has “twenty days” to decide on the first reading, at the end of which the Government “seizes the Senate.”
But rebels and environmentalists insisted on continuing the debate, arguing that the government had the possibility of prolonging the debate late into the night.
The Insoumists also believe that the socialists and the government are buying time, to avoid a complicated final vote, which might require a positive vote from the socialists, in the face of strong opposition from the LFI and RN to the entire bill.
During the debate, deputies abolished various divisive savings measures, abolished the freeze on pensions and the social minimum, additional taxes on co-insurance, or even the expansion of the coverage of the medical franchise.
Left-wing groups are also pushing to increase CSG assets, which are expected to generate revenues of $2.8 billion, and help finance pension reform.
However, the theoretical doubling of the medical deductible remains, as it depends on the decision and not on the bill.
Late Wednesday evening, and in a tense atmosphere, the Assembly approved by amendment an extension of one billion euros to the national health insurance spending target, announced by the government, including 850 million euros for hospitals and clinics, but without having time to adopt the targeted article.
The draft Social Security budget originally planned to reduce the Social Security deficit to 17.5 billion euros in 2026 (compared to 23 billion euros in 2025).
A goal that at this stage is incompatible with the votes of the deputies and the government’s concessions. The deficit should not be “larger than 20 billion euros”, Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin warned.
