Senators and deputies agreed, on Wednesday, November 27, a compromise regarding the Social Security budget for 2025, paving the way for its adoption without a vote using article 49.3, next Monday in the National Assembly, according to parliamentary sources cited by the Agence. France-Presse (AFP).
The text resulting from the joint commission, after more than seven hours of negotiations, provides, in particular, for a reduction in the reductions in company contributions of 1.6 billion euros, a measure fought until the end by the Ensemble pour la République (EPR ), main component of the government coalition in the Borbón Palace, which saw it as a renunciation of seven years of supply policy.
After highlighting that these reductions have multiplied in recent years until approaching 80 billion euros, the Government had initially proposed an effort of 4 billion euros for entrepreneurs, reduced to 3 billion euros in the version of the text approved on Tuesday in the Senate.
A measure was also adopted to increase pensions in 2025 below inflation for more than half of beneficiaries, which the RN strongly opposes. The compromise reached by the Republicans and the government, of which the parliamentarians took note, foresees indexing pensions to half of inflation starting on 1Ahem January (+ 0.8%), with an addition of 1Ahem July will reach +1.6%, for pensions less than 1,500 euros gross.
Tax on sugary drinks
During their debates, parliamentarians rejected a measure adopted in the Senate aimed at forcing workers to work without pay for seven more hours a year to finance the disability and old age sector. On the other hand, they confirmed the increase in a tax on sugary drinks, but rejected a faster than expected increase in the price of a pack of cigarettes.
In its initial version, the Government anticipated a deficit in the Social Security budget of 16,000 million euros, which is burdened by this parliamentary commitment.
Even before the conclusion of the CMP, the president of the social affairs commission of the Assembly, Frédéric Valletoux (Horizons), had mentioned to AFP a “transition budget” who is not “Neither ambitious nor glorious”. The EPR deputy, Stéphanie Rist, described it as a budget “balanced and responsible”.
This version of the Social Security financing bill will be submitted to the final vote of deputies and senators, but it is above all the last obstacle in the Assembly that could dizzy the executive and beyond. Practically condemned to use his first 49.3 in the Lower House on Monday and face a motion of censure during the week, Prime Minister Michel Barnier sounded the alarm about “the storm” that would cause a fall of the government, mainly in the financial markets.
