Social Security budget: according to the copy submitted to the Assembly, the deficit could reach 24 billion euros in 2026

At this stage "we are lacking many savings that we are struggling to get passed," he acknowledged.

"Our objective was to reduce it, bringing it down from 23 to 17 billion euros. Today, according to our latest calculations, we could reach 24 billion," the minister stated.

"When the final copy arrives at the Assembly in December, everyone will have to take a step towards each other," he added, calling for "responsibility from all parliamentarians."

If the draft social security budget were adopted in its amended version by the Assembly, "we would go from a deficit of 17,5 billion euros" initially planned by the government, to a deficit "of approximately 24,3 billion euros", Thibault Bazin (LR), general rapporteur of the social affairs committee, had also explained earlier in the day, the day after the end of the first reading of the text by the deputies.

According to its calculations, the changes made by the National Assembly to the draft Social Security budget for 2026 would increase its deficit by 6,8 billion.

The draft social security budget will be examined by the Senate starting next week, in its version amended by the Assembly.

When asked about the government's intention to review the system of negotiated terminations within the framework of unemployment insurance, Mr. Farandou noted that they "have developed considerably".

"Unemployment benefits paid to employees leaving negotiated terminations represent a quarter of all payments," he noted. "There is a risk of abuse. We have therefore proposed to the social partners that they address this issue," he said.

By what deadline? "By the end of the year," according to the minister. "We would like to move quite quickly to find a few hundred million euros in savings. All options are fine with me," he stated.