France will borrow a record €340 billion from financial markets in 2027, according to franceinfo. The figure marks the highest amount the country has ever sought in a single year.
The borrowing plan comes as France's public debt has climbed to 119 percent of GDP, a level not seen since 1946, Le Monde reports. Several French outlets, including 20 Minutes, describe the country as increasingly indebted.
Ahead of the budget's presentation, Sébastien Lecornu warned about record interest rates, telling Le Figaro that "reality is catching up with us." His remark points to the cost of servicing that debt as yields rise.
The budget now heading to parliament is being framed by Le Point as possibly the last one before a crisis, reflecting concern about the trajectory of French public finances.
The scale of the 2027 borrowing program, combined with the debt ratio and the interest-rate warning, places France's fiscal position under close scrutiny. The government must fund its deficit while investors weigh the risk of holding French debt.
What to watch next: whether the budget passes in its current form and how markets respond to the record issuance.
