France’s divided parliament on Tuesday debated an emergency bill aimed at preventing a US-style government shutdown next week, after negotiations on the 2026 budget broke down.

President Emmanuel Macron and his Cabinet met Monday night to present the short draft law, intended “to ensure the continuity of national life and the functioning of public services,” including tax collection and transfers to local authorities based on the 2025 budget, the Cabinet said.

Lawmakers in the National Assembly made several amendments to the bill and are expected to vote late Tuesday, followed by the Senate. Despite deep divisions among Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, left-wing forces, and Macron’s centrist minority government, the bill is likely to pass.

The next challenge is creating a full 2026 budget and avoiding a new political crisis. Macron is keen to reduce France’s large deficit to 5% and restore investor confidence after political deadlock worsened by last year’s snap elections.

Finance Minister Roland Lescure told BFM television Tuesday, “We need a budget as fast as possible so that we can move on. The longer the temporary budget lasts, the more it costs.”

France’s high public spending on welfare, healthcare, and education, combined with a heavy tax burden, leaves revenues insufficient to cover costs.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who resigned and was reappointed this fall, is expected to address the nation Tuesday on the budget situation.

Earlier this month, Lecornu’s minority government secured parliamentary approval for a key healthcare budget bill, but suspended Macron’s signature pension reform, which aimed to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.