France, Oct. 31 -- As France's parliament enters the final days of trying to agree on a belt-tightening budget for 2026, lawmakers are voting Friday on a wealth tax that left-wingers say will help reduce the country's €44 billion debt pile and budget deficit. The government, meanwhile, is defending an alternative to such a broad levy on the ultra-rich.

Tensions in France's already deeply divided parliament have further crystallised over how to tax its wealthiest citizens.

Left-wing lawmakers want a 2 percent tax (known as the "Zucman tax") on individuals whose total assets - including real estate, salary, professional and financial assets - exceed €100 million.

Crafted by French economist Gabriel Zucman, he says it would ap...