PARIS — France’s Finance Minister Roland Lescure expressed confidence on Thursday that the 2026 budget will be approved before the year’s end, despite ongoing parliamentary challenges. The budget bill, currently under Senate discussion after rejection of tax provisions by the lower house, faces a tight deadline to clear both chambers by December 23.
With a fragmented parliament that has already caused the fall of three governments since President Emmanuel Macron lost his majority in 2024, the government has limited flexibility to negotiate the budget. Lescure confirmed that if timely approval is not possible, a special stopgap law could be swiftly enacted to prevent a government shutdown, allowing spending and taxation to continue under 2025’s financial limits.
The Senate is expected to pass a version featuring fewer tax increases, but additional spending cuts must be found to address a growing social security funding gap. Lescure warned that the public sector deficit for 2026 is now likely to approach 5% of GDP, exceeding the initial 4.7% target.