French National Assembly unanimously rejects budget bill

PARIS — France’s National Assembly unanimously rejected the 2027 state budget bill Wednesday night, in a further sign that Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will have a tough time getting through €43 billion in budget savings. 458 lawmakers from both Emmanuel Macron’s camp and the opposition voted against the first part of the text that deals with tax income. It had been extensively amended by various groups, resulting in a proposal no one was happy with.

The second part of the text, which covers spending, was also struck down as a result. The government’s draft budget will now go directly to the Senate where it will be debated from Nov. 20.

The French lower chamber had already rejected the other leg of the 2027 budget, which covers state pensions and the health care system. It will now be discussed in the Senate. With France’s economy stagnating , debt piling up and the risk of a financial crisis looming over the country, Lecornu’s government is under pressure to put French finances in order.