France’s Bid for Budget Deal Stumbles as Tax Plans Rejected

France’s National Assembly rejected part of the 2026 budget in the early hours of Saturday morning, highlighting the uncertainties surrounding Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s approach to tackling the bloated deficit.

Lawmakers voted against the revenue chapter of the bill, sending the text to the Senate without the amendments designed to secure the support of opposition groups at later stages of the parliamentary process. Changes can still be made when the plans return to the National Assembly in December, but the rejection in the first reading reduces any margin for maneuver in subsequent negotiations.