For decades, France has been viewed as a cornerstone of European stability—an economic heavyweight, a political leader, and the EU’s second-largest economy. But today, a dramatic new question is emerging across Europe: Is France becoming the new sick man of Europe?
In this video, we break down why analysts, investors, and even other EU governments are sounding the alarm about France’s political paralysis, soaring debt, and deepening economic crisis.
KEY THEMES COVERED
• France’s political collapse after Macron’s disastrous 2024 snap elections
• A parliament split into three hostile blocs, unable to pass a national budget
• France’s exploding public debt—now over €3 trillion
• Why interest payments may hit €100 billion a year by the end of the decade
• Fitch’s recent downgrade and what it signals about investor confidence
• Rising tensions inside the EU as France becomes the bloc’s weak link
• Why analysts fear an IMF or ECB intervention is no longer unthinkable
• How the 2027 French presidential election could trigger a market “freak-out moment”
As we explore today, France’s crisis is not only about economics—it’s about governance, institutions, and political fragmentation. With the left, the right, and the center locked in a permanent three-way standoff, France cannot make decisions, even as its fiscal situation deteriorates.
Meanwhile, the rest of Europe is watching with a mix of concern and disbelief. Bond markets now treat French debt as riskier than that of Greece, Spain, or Portugal—countries devastated during the eurozone crisis.
Credit to : World Affairs In Context