French Social Security Budget Faces Collapse as Coalition Cracks
Paris, France – December 3, 2025 – France’s draft social Security budget for 2026 is teetering on the brink of collapse as internal divisions within the government coalition threaten to derail its passage through the national Assembly. Debates resumed Tuesday, revealing a deeply fractured landscape with compromises proving elusive and key coalition partners openly rebelling.
the immediate crisis stems from the position of the Horizons party, led by former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe. Philippe stated bluntly on Tuesday morning that his party “cannot vote for” the current text, with members oscillating between outright opposition and abstention. During a general discussion, Horizons spokesperson Nathalie Colin-Oesterlé delivered a scathing critique, arguing the budget fails to address the true cost of policy choices, weakens the workforce, and jeopardizes intergenerational equity.
This stance represents a meaningful blow to prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who has spent weeks attempting to negotiate a consensus with left-leaning parties, particularly the Socialist Party (PS). The Horizons rebellion forces Attal to simultaneously manage coalition unrest while continuing delicate talks with the opposition. Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, a key figure in the negotiations, was notably absent from the hemicycle after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, signaling the gravity of the situation.
The budget’s future remains highly uncertain. The lack of a unified front within the government raises serious questions about its viability and could trigger a wider political crisis.Further complicating matters is the fact that key details of the budget are behind a paywall,limiting public access to the specifics fueling the discontent.
Related Coverage:
* “The draft budget for “Secu” returns to the deputies: a crash test for Sébastien Lecornu, who has bet on negotiation” – Le Monde (Subscriber Exclusive)
* Budget 2026: Horizons refuses to support “stability at any price” – Le Monde (Subscriber Exclusive)
Keywords: France, Social Security, Budget 2026, National assembly, Government Crisis, Political Instability, Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal, Sébastien Lecornu, Horizons Party, Socialist Party, French Politics, European News.
