LIVE. 2026 Budget: Zucman tax, wealth taxation… follow the debates

Members of the National Assembly's Social Affairs Committee, reviewing the 2026 Social Security budget bill, approved on Friday a limit on the duration of prescribed sick leave. This limit will be set by decree, with the government indicating its intention to cap it at 15 days for an initial sick leave prescribed by a general practitioner, and 30 days for hospitalization. Any extension would be limited to two months.

Doctors may, however, deviate from the prescribed limit "in view of the patient's situation" and justify it on their prescription.

No maximum duration for sick leave is currently stipulated, although recommendations exist for certain medical conditions, with indicative durations. Furthermore, insured individuals are subject to a cap of 360 days of daily allowances over three years.

The social and solidarity economy , which represents 10% of French GDP, says it is "weakened" by the 2026 budget proposal, with thousands of associations, aid structures or cooperatives in "vital emergency" against a backdrop of feared cuts in state and local government spending.

Meeting in Bordeaux for its biennial Global Social Forum (GSEF), this sector, founded on principles of solidarity and social utility, fears a "massive" and unprecedented contraction of public funds allocated to the multiple activities of its 200,000 companies and structures in France (2.7 million employees).

- Members of Parliament opened debates this morning on the sensitive issues of wealth taxation and the Zucman tax .

- The first secretary of the PS, Olivier Faure, acknowledged that the Zucman tax would "probably" not be adopted, but expects alternative measures of "tax justice" from Sébastien Lecornu.

- Amendments aimed at deleting article 3 of the 2026 draft budget, which provides for the creation of a tax on the financial assets of asset holding companies , were rejected.

Shortly after 10 a.m., amendments aimed at removing Article 3 were rejected by a vote of 134 to 262. This article provides for the creation of a tax on the financial assets of family holding companies. " This Article 3 will do virtually no harm to billionaires, since it excludes business assets ," declared Éric Coquerel , the LFI chairman of the finance committee.

Interviewed on RTL, Jordan Bardella reaffirmed his opposition to the Zucman tax. "Our country is suffocating under regulations, suffocating under taxes ," explained the president of the National Rally. "If we think the solution is to burden business leaders with taxes, with this new Zucman tax, (...) then I think that's madness." The National Rally leader also confirmed that his party would censure the budget proposed by Sébastien Lecornu.

The first secretary of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, acknowledged that the Zucman tax would "likely not be voted on" in the Assembly on Friday, due to a lack of majority, but is waiting for alternative proposals on the taxation of the wealthiest from Sébastien Lecornu.

The Prime Minister must tell us what "tools he is putting in place to raise the billions we need," said Olivier Faure on BFMTV/RMC, suggesting two options: a return to the wealth tax abolished in 2017 and a modification of the "Dutreil loophole," used by some wealthy individuals to reduce inheritance taxes.

In the shadow of the main chamber, the social affairs committee will spend the entire day examining the social security budget. The stakes are lower, however, since the members of parliament will return to the chamber next week with the government's initial proposal.

Several hot topics will be addressed: the freeze on social benefits, the projected amount of health insurance spending, etc. But the expected vote will be on the suspension of the pension reform , another condition of the non-cease of the Socialist Party to which the Prime Minister agreed.

While there is a majority in the Assembly to repeal the reform outright, the fate of this article in committee is uncertain.

The Republicans (LR) and Horizons ( Édouard Philippe 's party) will propose its removal and could be supported by members of Macron's party. The National Rally (RN) is expected to vote in favor, according to a source within the group, as are the Socialists. However, La France Insoumise (LFI) will not vote for the article in committee, arguing that it is simply a "postponement of the increase in the legal retirement age." The Greens are also considering it.

On the agenda, in particular, is a tax proposed by the government on certain holding companies, which own stakes in other companies, and which is causing debate within its own camp.

Then will come proposals from all sides. The National Rally and the MoDem, for example, will propose their versions of a wealth tax. The left will advocate, among other things, the introduction of economist Gabriel Zucman's tax, a minimum tax of 2% on assets exceeding 100 million euros.

The socialists will also propose their compromise version to the government camp: 3% starting from 10 million euros, but excluding innovative and family businesses.

Two big pieces for the price of one. Members of Parliament are continuing their first reading debates on the revenue section of the 2026 budget bill this Friday, October 31.

From 9:00 a.m., the deputies will reopen discussions with the sensitive issue of wealth taxation and the now infamous Zucman tax, against the backdrop of an ultimatum from the Socialist Party for more "tax justice".

Some parliamentarians must also vote in committee on the suspension of the pension reform, another key to the non-censorship.