French Senate Vows to Reinstate Pension Reforms Amid Budget Dispute
The French Senate, led by Gérard Larcher, threatens to reinstate pension reforms amid a contentious 2026 budget debate marked by government reliance on ordinances and political divisions.
- • Senate President Gérard Larcher warns the Senate will reinstate pension reforms essential to France's financial future.
- • The budget debate is fraught, with expected rejection of the PJL, raising the possibility of legislating by ordinances or budget extension by decree.
- • The Renaissance party opposes pension reform suspension and criticizes the government's ordinance strategy as undermining parliamentary democracy.
- • Political shifts are underway ahead of the Paris municipal elections, with Renaissance backing Pierre-Yves Bournazel over Rachida Dati.
Key details
The political landscape in France remains tense as the Senate, led by President Gérard Larcher, has declared its intention to reinstate pension reforms, a move that complicates the approval process for the 2026 budget. Larcher criticized Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu for aligning too closely with socialist positions, which he said obstructs the Senate's ability to vote on the budget effectively. This impasse highlights the broader political friction surrounding pension reform and budget legislation.
The debate on the budget is highly contentious, with many lawmakers anticipating rejection of the Projet de Loi de Finances (PJL). The opposition stems partly from the use of government ordinances to pass budget measures, which critics, including some Renaissance party members, consider bypassing proper parliamentary debate. An ex-minister from Renaissance warned that legislating via ordinances would be a severe step, while deputy Sylvain Berrios described it as a "parliamentary robbery."
Further complicating matters is the pension reform suspension, which Renaissance vehemently opposes. Discussions around the Social Security budget also involve this debate, with an insider suggesting possible amendments to remove the suspension, urging deputies to maintain their hard-fought position on reforms. Meanwhile, the government faces the possibility of extending last year's budget by decree if the PJL is blocked.
Amid these legislative tensions, ministers are being pushed to propose new laws on issues like health, education, and immigration to keep the political agenda moving. Additionally, Renaissance is distancing itself from Rachida Dati for the Paris municipal elections, favoring Pierre-Yves Bournazel of the Horizons party, a choice that has sparked unease among some Macron supporters due to Bournazel's alignment with a leader calling for President Macron's early exit.
The current standstill underscores the fragility of the French political environment as the Senate asserts its authority on pension reforms while the government grapples with the challenge of passing its budget under difficult political conditions. The next steps, likely involving parliamentary votes and potential further use of ordinances, will be critical in determining the outcome of both the pension reform and the fiscal year’s budget measures.