Politics · France · 12 hrs ago
French Senate takes up 2027 budgets amid political uncertainty
France’s Senate has begun examining the 2027 budgets after lawmakers in the National Assembly rejected the budget bills in their first readings.
The Senate is debating the social security budget until November 18, and the state budget from November 20 to December 9.
The right and centrists hold a majority in the Senate, which has often adopted budgets in recent years.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has no parliamentary majority, and the government has not said whether it will use a special constitutional power known as Article 49.3 or issue budget orders if debate stalls.
The Senate aims to cut the public deficit to 5% of GDP in 2027 and the social security deficit to 12.7 billion euros, down from 21.8 billion in 2026.
Pension increases are among the key issues, including which retirees would have their payments adjusted for inflation.
The government is due to seek a possible compromise in December, but the path to passing the budgets remains uncertain.
France’s Senate began examining the 2027 social security budget on Monday, with the state budget debate scheduled to follow.
The social security budget debate is due to run until November 18, and the state budget debate from November 20 to December 9.
The government has no parliamentary majority, and it has not said whether it will use constitutional article 49.3 or ordinances to pass its budget.
The Senate’s right-centrist majority says it wants to influence the final budget and avoid the use of ordinances.
The Senate aims to keep the public deficit at 5% of GDP in 2027 and reduce the social security deficit to €12.7 billion.
- Who
- France’s Senate and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government.
- What
- The Senate is examining France’s 2027 social security and state budgets.
- When
- The social security budget debate began Monday and is scheduled to end November 18; the state budget debate is scheduled for November 20 to December 9.
- Where
- The French Senate, at the Palais du Luxembourg in Paris.
- Why
- The Senate is seeking to shape the final budgets amid financial pressures and uncertainty over how the government will pass its budget.
French Senate
French government
Passing the budget
French Senate
The Senate says its responsibility is to legislate and vote on a budget.
French government
The government has not said whether it will use article 49.3 or ordinances to pass its budget.
Use of ordinances
French Senate
The Senate says it wants to avoid ordinances by securing changes that could be included in the final budget.
French government
The government is considering ordinances if debate stalls.
The Senate began debating the 2027 social security budget.
The scheduled end of the social security budget debate.
The scheduled start of debate on the state budget.
The scheduled end of debate on the state budget.
- Social security budget debate
- Scheduled for Monday to November 18
- State budget debate
- Scheduled for November 20 to December 9
- Public deficit target
- 5% of GDP in 2027
- Social security deficit target
- €12.7 billion, compared with €21.8 billion in 2026
- Senate president
- Gérard Larcher, Les Républicains
What people are saying
a collective effort
Our responsibility is to make sure we can avoid ordinances
Our mission is to legislate and vote on a budget