France’s Lecornu Eyes Small Shift in Contested Deficit Plans

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu offered minor adjustments to overall budget targets and ruled out “austerity” as he strains to build support and dissuade opposition lawmakers from voting him out of office.

In just his second public comment on policy since President Emmanuel Macron instructed him to build consensus among factious lawmakers, the premier said he would present proposals based on reducing the deficit to around 4.7% of economic output next year from 5.4% in 2025.