He set a clear line: "The aim is 5% at worst, we'd like to be below, so we will have to make efforts in every dimension - spending and revenue."
He cautioned that if the budget that is set to be put forward late this month carries no effort to save, the deficit could swell to about 6% of economic output. He also argued that the entire state will have to pull its weight to cut spending, flagging possible moves such as indexing some pensions below inflation or changing employee savings systems.
The 2027 budget is headed for a bruising fight in a hung parliament seven months before elections. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu lacks a majority, which leaves him exposed to no-confidence votes that could topple his government and halt finance bills.
Opposition leaders are already drawing lines. In a Saturday interview with Bloomberg, Jordan Bardella, leader of the far right National Rally, pledged to resist tax hikes.
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France's economy is softening, with output contracting in the first quarter and flatlining in the second, according to Insee. Against that backdrop, Lescure said that because the premier has vowed not to introduce new taxes in the budget bill, most people will be "somewhat protected" from direct fallout. Still, with the government looking for savings almost everywhere, the pressure shifts to spending restraint and policy tweaks rather than broad new levies.
Bottom line for your wallet: if the deficit target holds and taxes stay off the table, the squeeze is more likely to show up in the services government provides and how benefits are adjusted, not a bigger tax bill in the mail.
