There is tension between Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and Head of State Emmanuel Macron. The reason is the state of the French state budget, known in Parisian jargon as „fipu“ for „finances publiques.“ The national deficit increased surprisingly significantly last year and amounted to 5.5 percent of GDP. The government had only forecast an increase to 4.9 percent. In 2022, new debt was still at 4.8 percent. Public debt amounted to 110.6 percent of GDP.