French National Assembly Finalizes 2026 Social Security Financing Bill Amid Political Divisions

The French National Assembly has definitively adopted the 2026 Social Security financing bill on December 16, 2025, concluding a challenging and extended parliamentary process. The final vote passed narrowly with 247 deputies voting in favor and 232 against, marking a crucial government legislative win despite lacking an outright majority.

The bill underwent modifications from both the Senate and the Assembly before the final reading, reflecting intense negotiations primarily between the government and the Socialist Party, alongside compromises among various parliamentary factions. The Macronist and Bayrouist deputies voted overwhelmingly in favor, complemented by significant socialist support. In contrast, the Republicans (LR) and Horizons party members were split, with some supporting the bill and others abstaining. Large portions of ecologists also abstained, while opposition groups such as the Rassemblement National (RN), the ciottistes, and the France Insoumise deputies voted firmly against.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu celebrated the bill's adoption as a significant achievement given the government's precarious parliamentary position and the inability to invoke Article 49.3, which allows legislation to pass without a vote. Notably, two parliamentarians altered their votes compared to a closer tally the previous week, which had seen the bill approved by a 13-vote margin.

This legislation finalizes the social security budget for 2026 and formally suspends the pension reform previously planned, a move that has stirred extensive debate across the political spectrum. The passage attests to the government's capacity to maneuver through France's fragmented assembly political landscape to secure essential social funding.

The bill's adoption comes amid criticism from all political parties, reflecting underlying tensions in French politics regarding social policy and fiscal priorities. Nonetheless, the parliamentary approval closes a significant chapter in the management of France's social security finances for the upcoming year, allowing implementation of budgetary measures agreed upon through the legislative process.