According to a report by the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee), at the end of March, the total debt of the French State amounted to 3,34 trillion euros, which implies a percentage point more in relation to the figure reported at the end of 2024 (113%). This deterioration of public finances represents an increase of 40 billion euros from one quarter to another, which keeps the Government’s alarms high, as it seeks cuts and savings of up to 50 billion in view of the budget for 2026.

Only Greece (153,6) and Italy (135,3) have a higher public debt than France.

Media such as Le Figaro newspaper recalled on Thursday that the Maastricht Treaty, the EU’s reference standard, set as an objective a public debt threshold below 60% of GDP in the bloc, which currently has 27 member countries.

In France, the decline in this indicator has been marked since 2017, with a €1 trillion boom since then.

The Prime Minister, François Bayrou, considered the debt situation a constant threat for the country’s social model and called on the country not to fold its arms in the face of the challenging scenario.

Political parties and trade unions warn that the consolidation of finances should not be carried out at the expense of workers and the most vulnerable people.

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