French Finance Minister Lescure, after criticism from the national audit office
over an undecided budget plan, reiterated his commitment to cutting the deficit
and said he hopes to preserve this year’s 5% target, while acknowledging limited
room for manoeuvre and warning that unchecked social-spending growth would
complicate efforts. The government remains committed to narrowing the deficit to
3% of GDP by 2029 but has not set intermediate-year targets or detailed the
spending cuts needed. Lescure will meet finance officials and other ministers on
Tuesday to reassess the 2026 budget after the Iran war weighed on growth and
pushed up inflation; he said even a modest deficit reduction will require
further spending savings.
