France is grappling with a significant public finance crisis, as highlighted by outgoing Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire.

The country's deficit is projected to reach 5.6% of GDP in 2024, with public debt soaring to 112% of GDP.

This marks a stark increase from 2017 figures, which stood at 2.8% and 97%, respectively.

The situation is exacerbated by unverified local government accounts, which could further inflate the deficit by 16 billion euros.

Critics argue that the liberal economic policies under President Macron, including tax cuts for the wealthy, have contributed to this financial strain.

As France faces pressure from Brussels to reduce its deficit to 3%, the challenge of balancing economic growth with fiscal responsibility looms large.