French social security budget bill passes first step in Assemblée Nationale

France’s Assemblée Nationale on Tuesday, December 9, narrowly approved a social security budget, clearing a major hurdle for Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu as he seeks to finalize a 2026 spending plan by year-end.

The Assemblée backed the measure, which includes the suspension of an unpopular pension reform, by 247 votes to 234, and it will now head back to…