France's 2025 budget may be adopted before the beginning of March, Minister for Public Accounts, Amélie de Montchalin, said in an interview with Le Parisien newspaper, according to Report.
"The absence of a budget creates economic uncertainty," she said. "Time is pressing, the budget must be adopted before the beginning of March."
The minister also added that the authorities would like to keep the 2025 budget deficit within 5%.
The budget was the reason for the resignation of the previous cabinet led by Prime Minister Michel Barnier. In autumn 2024, he attempted to pass the financial law bypassing the National Assembly (lower house of parliament). In response, parliamentarians passed a vote of no confidence in the government.
The new head of government, François Bayrou, named solving the country's financial problems as his key priority. In particular, the republic's public debt has exceeded €3.3 trillion, which represents 113.7% of GDP.
To ensure uninterrupted financing of state programs, France adopted a special law on public finances in December last year, with main parameters matching those of the 2024 budget. This document will remain in effect until the adoption of the 2025 budget.