Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on March 26, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 24, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleFrance's 2026 budget will be difficult due to deficit cuts and increased military spending, aiming for a 3% deficit by 2029.
PARIS (Reuters) - Balancing France's budget for the 2026 calendar year will be a tough challenge due to needing to both cut the deficit and make room for higher military spending, government spokeswoman Sophie Primas said on Wednesday.
"The prime minister today insists that the 2026 budget, which is going to be a nightmare given the extent of our financial difficulties, be worked upon and consulted upon by the full social and parliamentary spectrum, many of whom often feel they are not listened to," she told Public Senat TV.
"It is going to be a very difficult budget," she added.
Centrist Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's government wants to reduce the public sector budget deficit from 5.4% of economic output this year - one of the biggest fiscal shortfalls in the European Union - to the bloc's 3% ceiling in 2029.
Finance Minister Eric Lombard said this month that work was underway to boost defence spending in a way that neither added to France's debt burden nor undermined its welfare system, which is cherished by many citizens despite being costly.
(Reporting by Sudip Kar-Gupta; Editing by Bernadette Baum)
The main topic is France's 2026 budget challenges, focusing on deficit reduction and increased military spending.
The 2026 budget is challenging due to the need to cut the deficit while accommodating higher military spending.
France aims to reduce its public sector budget deficit to the EU's 3% ceiling by 2029.
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