French Finance Minister Eric Lombard warned that an International Monetary Fund intervention “cannot be ruled out” if Prime Minister François Bayrou’s minority government loses a 8 September confidence vote, underscoring the political risks surrounding the 2026 budget process. In subsequent remarks intended to calm investors after a pull-back in French bonds and bank stocks, Lombard stressed that France is currently “under no threat” from the IMF or the European Central Bank, saying the country continues to tap markets without difficulty. Lombard said the government remains on track to meet its 2025 deficit objective of 5.4% of gross domestic product and that the 2026 budget bill is “almost ready” and will be the result of cross-party compromise. He cited roughly €30 billion in new spending while confirming the plan contains neither a surtax on large companies nor a revival of the abolished wealth tax (ISF). The minister added that he expects Parliament to adopt the budget on time and does not foresee a broader financial crisis, despite the uncertainty created by the upcoming confidence vote.