French lawmakers have passed two unexpected tax hikes targeting multinational corporations, challenging Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government and

adding fresh uncertainty to ongoing budget negotiations for next year.

The measures were approved late Tuesday during the first reading of the 2026 budget bill in the National Assembly. Support came from both the far-right and far-left parties, marking a rare moment of convergence across France’s polarized political spectrum.

Although the tax amendments passed this initial stage, they could still be removed or overturned later in the legislative process as the budget continues to move through parliament. Photo by Pol at French Wikipedia.