France's debt is high, while Germany moderately loosens its debt brake.

France's debt-to-GDP ratio has reached 119%, a post-World War II high, while Germany's stands at 64%. When the euro was born, both countries had debt ratios of about 60%, but their trajectories have diverged sharply since 2010. Germany's constitutional debt brake requires budget balance and a primary fiscal surplus, helping push its debt ratio down from 81% to 59% in 2019. France has not run a fiscal surplus since 1974. Its 2025 fiscal deficit is about 5.1%; without large-scale spending cuts, its debt ratio is projected to rise to about 122% by 2027. Prime Minister Lecornu has proposed a 54 billion euro savings plan, but with parliament fragmented into competing factions, whether the bill can pass remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Germany, relying on its solid fiscal foundation, has slightly relaxed its debt brake to increase defense spending, while France no longer has such room for maneuver. Write a title.