From political woes to economic ones: The first roaring week of France’s election campaign

France's budget has breached EU fiscal rules, according to the European Commission’s latest report. In response, the Elysée has until September to present a plan to quell Brussels’s fears over its growing budget deficit and its high levels of debt.

The excessive deficit procedure's timing could not be worse — France is going through an unexpected political campaign where both far-left and far-right parties have promised to their electorate generous economic measures. Is it the start of a fiscal struggle between Brussels and Paris?

In this episode, host Giada Santana and Paris reporter Theo Bourgery-Gonse sum up the highlights of the first roaring week of the French electoral campaign.

In this episode you will find more about:

• The European Commission has launched a procedure against France for breaching EU fiscal rules, with France's national deficit widening and exceeding targets.
• The Rassemblement National, a leading party in France, has proposed policies that could further strain public finances, including lowering VAT on energy and fuel and increasing salaries.
• Both the far-right and far-left parties in France have criticized the EU's budget rules and are advocating for increased public spending, funded by taxing the wealthy.
• The political landscape in France is complex, with alliances shifting and parties divided on strategies for the upcoming elections. The outcome of these elections could have significant implications for France's economic policies and its relationship with the EU.