French Government Heads for Existential Showdown Over Wealth Tax

France’s Socialist Party will decide by the end of the week whether to topple the government, following votes in parliament on the left’s push to boost taxes on the wealthy.

The Socialists, who have a pivotal role in potential no-confidence motions, are maintaining their threat to attempt to topple Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu if there is no significant increase in taxes on the rich in next year’s fiscal plans. The French government has until now resisted attempts at adding sweeping wealth taxes. Debate on budget amendments to introduce levies on the largest fortunes in France has been delayed to the ...