French Prime Minister Urges Parliament to Approve Social Security Budget, Citing National Risk
PARIS - France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu issued a late-night appeal to National Assembly deputies, urging them to approve the draft budget for Social security when it comes to a vote on Tuesday. Lecornu characterized the proposed budget as ”the best possible” despite acknowledging it is “not perfect,” and warned of significant consequences should lawmakers fail to reach an agreement.
The plea comes amid debate over the Social Security budget,which Lecornu stressed is not solely a government or party initiative. He emphasized the critical need for action,stating that inaction would jeopardize France’s social safety net,public finances,and the authority of Parliament itself. The Prime minister also highlighted the substantial social security deficit, asserting that it is indeed “still too big to do nothing” and necessitating potential reforms, some of which might potentially be enacted through decree following consultation.
lecornu took to his X account to convey the urgency, imploring deputies to vote “in conscience, for the general interest.” The upcoming vote is pivotal as it will determine the financial framework for France’s social programs and the government’s ability to address the existing deficit. Should the budget fail to pass, it could trigger a period of financial instability and necessitate perhaps unpopular measures to stabilize the system.
