Mathilde Panot, president of the parliamentary group of La France insoumise (LFI) in the National Assembly, criticized the government's proposed budget as "scandaleux" ("scandalous") during an appearance on Lundi C'est Politique on September 21, 2026. She referenced initial outlines of the government's plans, which include 54 billion euros in savings for the coming year. Panot accused the executive of pursuing a "policy of empty coffers" and of favoring Total, an oil company, during the current fuel crisis, claiming the company is "gorging itself on the backs of the French people" and "profiting from the crisis." Panot expressed opposition to the government's intention to place retirees on the financial burden, arguing that the government's policies favor the ultra-wealthy and multinational corporations. She stated that if the wealthy need to be taxed, it should be through direct taxation rather than by reducing indexation. She also opposed efforts to target "middle-class or slightly higher classes," asserting that while it might be acceptable to tax wealthy retirees if necessary, the focus should be on all the wealthy, not just retirees. She noted that at the same time, the government is reducing the exceptional tax on multinational profits. Panot cited the fact that 53 billionaires hold as much wealth as 32 million French people. She confirmed her group's intention to censure the government if the 49.3 rule (a constitutional rule allowing the government to bypass the parliament on certain matters) is used again, stating that this would be the "only way to vote against the budget." She accused the government of targeting the sick through proposed increases in sick leave costs in the bill financing the social security system (PLFSS) and expressed willingness to use a motion of censure to "prevent this government from committing further harms." On the possibility of a special law, which could gain traction during the presidential year, Panot suggested it would be "the least worst solution." She considered that a minimal budgetary exercise, pending the formation of a new government, might suffice "until the French people decide." However, she deemed implementing the budget through decrees "an absolutely unacceptable power grab" that would also require censure.