France faces a critical debt crisis as protests turn to riots and a key budget vote nears

France faces a critical debt crisis, with nationwide protests turning into riots and a key budget vote approaching that could force the country to seek international financial assistance. Analysts warn the world's seventh-biggest economy is on the brink of a fiscal meltdown. The unrest stems from high living costs and underinvestment in public services, while France's record $4 trillion public debt has pushed bond yields to 24-year highs. A failure to pass the 2027 budget in Tuesday's National Assembly vote could cause borrowing costs to explode, with far-right and far-left candidates' spending plans eroding market confidence. Analysts note France's generous pension system has strained education spending, and the country faces potential political gridlock regardless of the upcoming presidential election. The European Central Bank may hesitate to intervene, and a Moody's downgrade or wider violence could precede any fiscal reform.