Debate on France’s 2027 budget continued at a brisk pace in the National Assembly on Monday, November 2, despite low attendance. Around ten lawmakers were present in the chamber during the morning session, as deputies considered amendments ahead of Tuesday’s formal vote on the budget’s revenue section.
The session turned to measures concerning France’s overseas territories. Lawmakers adopted amendments aimed at expanding socially oriented care homes for older people and addressing geographic restrictions on access to certain audiovisual content. Karine Lebon, a lawmaker from the Communist and Overseas Territories group, also highlighted difficulties accessing housing in overseas territories, where a significant share of residents lives below the poverty line. She urged the government to retain an amendment supporting access to homeownership, which has been approved annually since 2024 but has not made it into the final budget text.
The debate also became a broader confrontation over President Emmanuel Macron’s economic policies, following disappointing growth data from France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. Gross domestic product fell by 0.1% in the third quarter, according to preliminary figures published on October 30, despite expectations of a slight increase. Inflation is also continuing to rise.
Jean-René Cazeneuve of the Renaissance party defended the government’s approach, arguing that corporate tax cuts had supported stronger growth in France than elsewhere in Europe up to 2022. He said the subsequent slowdown in tax reductions and the introduction of an additional corporate levy coincided with the economic deterioration, while maintaining that the supply-side policy had produced tangible benefits.
Eric Coquerel, the La France insoumise chair of the Finance Committee, instead criticized what he called an austerity policy that had reduced public spending and weakened purchasing power. He called on the government to revise its budget proposal and update its growth forecasts for 2027. Public Accounts Minister David Amiel warned on Friday that the country would need to make greater budgetary efforts than those included in the initial draft.
On Monday, left-wing lawmakers secured the adoption, against the government’s position, of two amendments proposed by La France Insoumise. They would allow the state to take stakes in ArcelorMittal and Vinci Autoroutes. The National Rally abstained.
Government-supporting lawmakers opposed the measures, but their limited presence underlined the uncertainty surrounding the amendments. The budget is widely expected to face rejection, potentially leading to the use of Article 49.3 or ordinances. Debate is due to continue throughout the week, with the vote on the revenue section of the budget bill scheduled for Tuesday, November 3.
Sources: Le Monde.