French Senate Adopts 2026 Budget Amid Les Républicains' Internal Struggles

On December 15, 2025, the French Senate approved a revised version of the 2026 finance bill, marking a significant step in the budget approval process. The Senate's right-wing and centrist majority prioritized spending cuts instead of tax increases in their version of the budget. The next crucial phase involves deputies and senators negotiating to find a consensus in a mixed commission scheduled for December 19 — a process anticipated to be difficult given the contrasting positions.

Meanwhile, the political party Les Républicains (LR) is grappling with internal disunity and leadership weaknesses during this budget season. With 49 deputies representing diverse constituencies, LR faces challenges coordinating votes on both the state and social security budgets. The turmoil was evident during the budget text adoption on December 9, exposing fractures within LR ranks. A government advisor wryly compared the party’s factionalism to the "Liot group but on a larger scale," highlighting a lack of cohesion that complicates unified budget negotiations.

As the Senate and National Assembly conclude their respective votes—the social security budget vote is scheduled for December 16—the upcoming mixed commission negotiation stands as a critical and challenging juncture for the 2026 budget’s final form. The Senate's choice to emphasize expenditure cuts sets the stage for contentious discussions, especially amid the political tensions inside Les Républicains, whose members must balance party divisions with legislative responsibilities.