French Senate Rejects 2026 Budget Bill, Government to Invoke Article 49.3

The French Senate decisively rejected the 2026 budget bill on Thursday, with a vote tally of 203 against and 32 in favor, marking a significant setback for the government’s fiscal plan. This rejection clears the path for the government to make a final push to pass the budget using Article 49.3 of the Constitution, a legal mechanism that enables legislation to be adopted without a parliamentary vote. The government is expected to trigger this article on Friday at the National Assembly to expedite the budget's adoption.

Senators from both the right and left expressed strong criticism of the budget. Jean-François Husson, the Senate's budget rapporteur, dismissed the bill as a "fiasco" in terms of both its content and the government's handling. The budget includes a controversial surtax on large company profits, expected to generate €7.3 billion in 2026, which has sparked discontent in the Senate. Some left-wing senators also voiced frustration about the rushed debate process, while Minister of Public Accounts Amélie de Montchalin contended that the budget was the outcome of careful compromise incorporating Senate input.

The Senate's rejection was part of a strategic decision to avoid prolonging preliminary debates, thereby accelerating the budgetary procedure. The definitive adoption of the 2026 budget is now scheduled for the week of February 2 to 8. The anticipated use of Article 49.3 on Friday will be a decisive step to enforce the budget despite parliamentary opposition, underscoring tensions between the executive branch and the legislature.