Budget 2026: deputies continued their examination of the Finance Bill on Thursday
Hours after the end of debate on the Social Security budget – which was resolved without a vote – deputies will return to the hemicycle Thursday morning to examine the finance bill. The latter has been paused for nine days to allow progress on the text regarding “Secu”, including the suspension of the 2023 pension reform.
For the state budget, the task is equally difficult: there are still more than 2,100 amendments yet to be vetted in the first section alone, which is devoted to the revenue sector. A vote is planned for November 17 on this, but it seems far from certain. The entire text must be submitted to the Senate by November 23 at midnight, in line with the constitutional deadline.
On the immediate agenda once the debate reopens is eliminating tax loopholes for retirees. The government aims to replace the 10% reduction in pensions they received with a flat rate reduction of 2,000 euros, with an expected return of 1.2 billion euros. However, as in committee, a consensus to remove these measures must emerge.
There are still many taxes to be examined, including taxes on small amounts, which attracted particular attention as the controversy surrounding e-commerce company Shein sparked public debate. Or the increase in stamp duty for obtaining a residence permit, criticized by the left.
The government and Assembly have now noted that there will be no vote ” expenditure “ state budget, the government has announced at the presidential conference on Wednesday the budget items (defense, sports, etc.) it wants to examine.
But the vote regarding the “revenue” part is also uncertain. It’s different with the Jamsostek budget, there isn’t necessarily a certain group that wants to buy time, who can buy time.
Before the state budget was split, deputies attacked the most symbolic measures, especially taxation of the richest people. If left-wing groups failed to pass Zucman’s tax, several taxes targeting multinational companies or superdividends were passed, angering the government camp, which criticized the policy. “tax madness”.
The Minister of Public Accounts, Amélie de Montchalin, provided a more nuanced assessment, assessing the copy as far from a “Frankenstein Budget”with a deficit target of 4.7% of GDP maintained.
