France’s public finances have come under scrutiny as estimates suggest a budget deficit may rise from 4.4% to 6.1% of GDP for 2024. An investigation by franceinfo identifies six primary ‘suspects’ in this financial downturn: President Emmanuel Macron, former Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire, local governments, high-ranking officials at the Ministry of Finance, households, and opposition parties. As they defend their actions, questions arise about political choices, fiscal policies, and the role of economic circumstances like the pandemic and the Ukraine war.