France budget debate opens under Socialist threat

France's 2027 budget debate was set to open under pressure Tuesday as Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu tried to stop the Socialist Party from blocking the process at the start.

The National Assembly was due to begin examining the revenue section of the budget on Tuesday evening. The Socialists planned to table a motion rejecting it at the outset, a move that could halt debate before it begins.

Lecornu urged Socialist leaders to withdraw the motion and called for compromise, saying refusal to engage in budget discussions would send “the worst signal” from parliament. The Socialists rejected the appeal.

The far-right National Rally said it would vote against the Socialist motion, likely dooming its chances of success. Senior National Rally lawmaker Jean-Philippe Tanguy said his party wanted a debate and would not give the government “the gift of avoiding a confrontation”.

The government wants to reduce the budget deficit to five percent of GDP through 43 billion euros in spending cuts and other measures. Opposition parties have criticised proposals including cuts to healthcare spending and changes to pension indexation.

Public Accounts Minister David Amiel called the Socialist move “a boycott motion” and said parliament needed to debate the budget as borrowing costs rise.

The government lacks a parliamentary majority and has little prospect of passing the budget through normal procedures. It could again use a constitutional power to force the legislation through without a vote, as it did last year.