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The Money Problem Fueling France’s Riots
21 minutes Posted Oct 23, 2026 at 8:37 pm.
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This past weekend, mayhem broke out alongside peaceful demonstrations in France. What started as a protest over school resources spiralled into anger over potential big cuts to social services. For years the country had a high appetite for borrowed money taken out at low interest rates. But today France is facing a fiscal reckoning as more than $1 trillion of that debt will come due by 2030. WSJ’s Stacy Meichtry explains how France’s debt bomb contributed to the unrest. Ryan Knutson hosts.
Further Listening:
- Germany’s Economy Is Broken. There’s No Plan B.
- Will France Elect a Far-Right President?
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