French 2026 Budget Faces Parliamentary Rejection Amid Political Divisions

On January 10, the Finance Commission of the French National Assembly rejected the expenditure portion of the 2026 national budget, marking a continuation of political tensions that have already seen the revenue section previously dismissed. The vote revealed sharp fractures within the Assembly, with major parties including Rassemblement National (RN), La France insoumise (LFI), the Ecologists, and Les Républicains (LR) voting against the budget, while the Socialist Party (PS), MoDem, and the European Democratic Rally (EPR) abstained. Key groups such as Liot and Horizons were notably absent, highlighting the government's lack of an outright majority backing the bill.

The budget under review was based on a version passed by the Senate in December 2025. Philippe Juvin, the Budget Rapporteur, had proposed a general cut aimed at saving €6.2 billion, largely impacting education and ecological missions, but this initiative was rejected, ultimately resulting in a €6.8 billion increase in expenditures rather than cuts. The government's efforts to pass the budget without amendments have been complicated by these rejections and intensified political dissent.

Eric Coquerel, president of the Finance Commission and a member of La France insoumise, expressed doubts about the possibility of compromise, reflecting the polarized environment. Opposition factions have also threatened parliamentary motions of censure should the government resort to invoking Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to pass the budget without a vote—a measure Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu had initially promised to avoid to maintain parliamentary stability.

In parallel, RN deputy Pierre Meurin voiced strong opposition to the 2026 budget during his political address in Alès, condemning the proposed €19 billion tax increase and advocating instead for cuts to public agencies, immigration, and state media. Meurin also celebrated the recent repeal of low emission zones, deeming them socially unjust for rural populations, and criticized the government’s environmental policies as overly normative and restrictive. He emphasized practical approaches focusing on reindustrialization, nuclear energy, and local governance.

The National Assembly is scheduled to continue debating the budget until January 23, but the government might invoke constitutional measures or issue ordinances sooner to enact the budget amid mounting pressure and political deadlock. The impasse lays bare ongoing fractures in French politics as the country approaches important elections in 2026 and 2027.