France to raise 2024 deficit target to 5%-5.1% of Les Echos

France’s finance ministry will raise its deficit target for 2024to the equivalent of 5%-5.1% of GDP on Wednesday, up from an original target of 4.4% due to a rapid deterioration of state finances, financial daily Les Echos reported.

The newspapersaid, without naming its sources, that President Emmanuel Macron and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire were at loggerheads over theissue, with Le Maire arguing for stronger budget cuts to bring state finances back on track.

The paper said the new target would require additional spending cuts worth 10 billion euros ($10.85 billion), on top of the 10 billion euros of spending cuts announced in February.

The finance ministry was not immediately available for comment. Paris is due to send a revised deficit reduction plan to Brussels in the next few days.

Les Echos, quoting unnamed government sources, said the government is considering a further freeze of government spending, a possible increase in the tax on energy companies’ profits and the possibility of freezing some social security spending, notably on health insurance.

The paper reported that, officially, the objective of returning to below 3% in 2027 remains in place, even if most economists consider this unlikely.

Following decades of spending beyond its means, France must in coming weeks show how it will avoid a budget crunch that is putting its credit ratings at risk.

Statistics agency INSEE said on March 26 thedeficit ended 2023 at 5.5% of GDP, overshooting the 4.9% target.

For 2025, France is targeting a 4.1% deficit, revised up from an earlier target of 3.7%, Les Echos reported.
Source: Reuters (Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Inti Landauro and Andrew Heavens)