French National Assembly Approves Social Security Revenue Budget Amid Political Divisions

On December 5, 2025, the French National Assembly voted to approve the revenue section of the Social Security finance bill, marking a pivotal step in the ongoing budget deliberations. The bill passed by a slim margin, with 166 deputies voting in favor and 140 against, signaling significant political divisions in the parliament.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu praised the collaborative efforts between political groups, describing the vote as evidence that compromise can advance national interests despite fragmentation. Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly, similarly emphasized the necessity of compromise in the current political climate.

While the Socialist Party saw some of its members—54 deputies—support the revenue budget, Socialist deputy Jérôme Guedj underscored the importance of continuing debates about the expenditure portion, especially regarding hospital funding and elderly care support. Contrasting views came from opposition ranks: Jean-Philippe Tanguy of the National Rally criticized the budget as ineffective and burdensome, and Éric Ciotti from UDR decried the increase in the CSG tax, calling it a betrayal of political commitments. Éric Coquerel from La France Insoumise also expressed skepticism about the final vote, slated for December 9, suggesting it could significantly diverge from the current approval.

Public discourse reflects broader dissatisfaction, with political commentator Alain Duhamel noting that the French people are entering "a phase of political rejection." Deputies like Alexis Corbière likened current budget policies to a "shop of horrors," while others such as Violette Spillebout voiced concern over possible regressions in pension reforms. Opposition voices pointed to insufficient hospital funding and criticized the fiscal strategy underpinning the budget.

Marc Fesneau from MoDem hailed the approval as "good news," balancing positive reception in some quarters against fierce criticism elsewhere. The Assembly’s approval of the 'recettes' section sets the stage for intense scrutiny of the expenditure part, with the full budget expected to be voted on by December 9, 2025.

This vote highlights the deep divisions among France's political forces over social security funding and broader fiscal policies, as well as the government's challenge to unite disparate views amid growing public disillusionment.