New data shows that France has the highest tax burden in the European Union, at 46 percent of GDP, according to the figures cited. France's national debt also continues to grow.
The figures come amid new street protests over a lack of education funding and falling purchasing power. Against that backdrop, the government is proposing a meagre hike in the minimum wage.
Separately, US tech giants have seen their shares diverge as the AI boom pushes massive capital expenditures.