French Senate announces new leadership and budget appointments

The French Senate has undergone several key leadership appointments following the reelection of President Gérard Larcher.

Christine Lavarde, a senator from Les Républicains, has been designated as the general rapporteur of the budget. She succeeds Jean-François Husson in this role and will be responsible for coordinating the examination of the finance bill this autumn. Lavarde won the internal group vote with 79 votes against 38. She is expected to work alongside Socialist senator Thierry Cozic, who will preside over the Finance Commission.

In other leadership changes, Audrey Bélim, a Socialist senator from La Réunion, was appointed as a Secretary of the Senate, joining the Senate Bureau for the 2026-2029 term. Additionally, Solanges Nadille, a senator from Guadeloupe, was named Vice-President of the Senate, marking the first time an elected official from an overseas territory has held that position. Bélim and Nadille are the only representatives from France's overseas territories to join the Senate Bureau for this mandate.