FRANCE'S DEBT SEEN RISING TO RECORD 120% OF GDP IN 2026

PARIS, SEPTEMBER 19 /SRNA-Reuters/ – France's debt is expected to reach a record 119.3% of gross domestic product /GDP/ in 2026 and 121.7% in 2027, the Finance Ministry said.

The ministry presented the projections in a declaration submitted to the High Council of Public Finances, the body responsible for assessing revenue and spending forecasts in the government's draft budget.

According to government data, France's debt-to-GDP ratio stood at 115.7% in 2025, compared with less than 100% in 2019.

The Finance Ministry said it expected the country to end the year with a budget deficit of 5.4% of GDP.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Thursday that he expected the 2026 deficit to be well below 5.5%.

Lecornu has also announced plans to include EUR 54 billion in savings in the 2027 budget in an effort to prevent the deficit from spiraling out of control.