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French Lawmakers Reject Censure Motions, Send 2026 Budget to the Senate

The bill now heads into a brief Senate stop expected to bounce it back for a final Assembly vote within days.

Overview

  • After Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu invoked Article 49.3 on the spending text, the Assembly voted down two censure bids, with the left‑led motion at 267 votes and the RN/UDR motion at 140.
  • The government’s survival hinged on the Socialist Party and LR declining to back censure, keeping the minority executive in place.
  • The plan aims for a 2026 deficit near 5% of GDP and slows overall public‑spending growth to about 0.8% in volume.
  • Key measures include an enhanced surtax on big‑company profits (around €8 billion yield), a €2 levy on small extra‑EU parcels, a one‑year extension of the high‑income minimum tax, and an average €50‑per‑month increase in the prime d’activité.
  • Defence funding rises by roughly €6.5–€6.7 billion as many ministries see tighter credits, and a final passage could involve another 49.3 if, as expected, the Senate rejects the text.