French MPs reject the 2027 social security budget in committee

The National Assembly’s social affairs committee voted the bill down on Friday. The vote has no direct effect: the full house debates the government’s original text from Tuesday.

The bill would nearly halve the social security deficit, to 12.7 billion euros in 2027 from 21.8 billion this year, largely by asking more of retirees.

MPs objected most to Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s plan to stop indexing two-thirds of pensions to inflation. They also struck out a 3.7-billion-euro measure on employer contributions.

What's next

Without a majority, Lecornu could force the text through under Article 49.3 of the Constitution, or enact it by ordinance if Parliament has not voted by the end of November.