France adopts 2015 social security budget

The French government secured the adoption of its social security budget for 2015 in parliament yesterday, despite opposition from rebel Socialist lawmakers, a day before the European Commission’s verdict on its deficit-cutting plans.

Paris wants to obtain another two years to bring its total public deficit in line with EU limits, hoping the lack of growth and its efforts to rein in future spending will mollify Brussels despite its exasperation with its repeated fiscal slippages.

The social security budget, which accounts for close to half of next year’s €21bn in planned savings with caps on healthcare and welfare benefits, includes a controversial and unprecedented move to means-test family benefits. It was adopted by 270 votes to 245 after 34 rebel socialist lawmakers abstained despite calls from the government for them to back its policy.