French growth will reach "at least" 0,8% in 2025, according to Lescure

"We had forecast 0,7%. I think we will have at least 0,8%. We have a very good third quarter, so we would really have to have a bad fourth, which I don't believe will happen, for us to be below 0,8%," the minister explained.

In September, INSEE raised its growth forecast for France in 2025 to 0,8%, compared to 0,6% previously, while stressing the fragility of the economic drivers against a backdrop of political crisis that is damaging household confidence and consumption.

According to the Minister of the Economy, the government's upward revision of the growth forecast is "essentially due to French companies exporting more and investing more".

"That's why we need a budget," he insisted, so as not to maintain uncertainty for households and businesses.

"The risk, if for example we do not have a social security budget on Tuesday, if we do not have a budget in the wake of that, is that this political uncertainty will generate not only economic worries, which are already there, but economic decisions," according to Mr. Lescure.

After adopting the revenue section of the draft social security budget for 2026 on Friday in a suspenseful vote, the National Assembly reintroduced the suspension of the emblematic pension reform.

The next step will take place on Tuesday with the vote on the entire text, the outcome of which is very uncertain.