Former French Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire faced a Senate Finance Committee for three hours, defending his handling of the country’s budget during his tenure. He denied allegations of wrongdoing regarding the significant budget deficit projected to reach 6.1% of GDP in 2024, attributing the fiscal issues to external economic pressures and the actions of the current government. Le Maire acknowledged a ‘technical error’ in revenue forecasting, which has led to an estimated €41 billion shortfall. Ongoing discussions about financial strategies continue, as former officials prepare to testify.