The 2026 budget already worries the government. The latter will be a “nightmare” to prepare, according to government spokesperson Sophie Primas who warns that “everyone will be used” to reduce the deficit by 5.4 to 4.6 % of GDP.
“There will be a big conference on public finances in April which will associate everyone, because the Prime Minister absolutely wants today that this 2026 budget, which will be a nightmare as the financial difficulties are important, is shared,” said government spokesperson for Public Senate.
“It’s a very difficult budget”
“It’s a very difficult budget”. Putting the state deficit from 5.4 to 4.6 % of GDP, and “cope today with the new challenges that are challenges of rearmament and investment in our defense industry, these are difficulties that are added,” she noted.
In early February, Bercy had estimated that the 2026 deficit would be revised up, compared to the 4.6 % transmitted to Brussels, while remaining under 5 %. To achieve this objective, “everyone will be used,” warned Sophie Primas, without going into the details of the savings or efforts envisaged. “What is important is that everyone realizes the difficult situation in which we are today,” she added.
A plan entitled “Rearmer Europe” was revealed in broad outline on March 4 by the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. This plan aims to mobilize up to 800 billion euros to provide Europe with a “credible deterrence” by 2030.