Fears over budget puts French govt in jeopardy

France's Prime Minister Michel Barnier has warned of "a big storm and very serious turbulence in the financial markets" if the budget recently agreed upon by the government is challenged and overturned in the country's parliament.

Barnier was appointed PM at the start of September, following a snap general election earlier in the summer that failed to produce a clear winner and resulted in months of political deadlock.

In early October, a budget for 2025 was put forward that aimed to bring under control France's growing deficit through a combination of cuts of just over 41 billion euros ($43.2 billion) and about 20 billion euros in tax increases.