Moody’s(US:MCO) Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-10-25 02:35Core Viewpoint - Moody's has maintained France's sovereign credit rating at Aa3 but has downgraded the outlook from "stable" to "negative" due to concerns over weakened institutional governance and risks of regression in structural reforms [1] Group 1: Credit Rating Changes - Moody's is the third major international rating agency to adjust France's sovereign credit rating, following Fitch and Standard & Poor's, which downgraded France's rating to "A+" with a stable outlook [1] - The downgrade in outlook reflects concerns about the long-term fragmentation of France's political landscape, which may affect the normal functioning of national institutions [1] Group 2: Fiscal Concerns - Moody's warns that France's fiscal deficit is expected to remain high for an extended period, with projections indicating that the deficit could rise to 5.8% of GDP by 2026 and further to 6.2% in 2027 and 2028, stabilizing around 6.3% in 2029 and 2030 if no policy adjustments are made [1] - The French Minister of Economy and Finance, Roland Lescure, emphasized the necessity for France to reach a compromise on the budget, aiming for a fiscal deficit of 5.4% of GDP by 2025 and below 3% by 2029 [1] Group 3: Legislative Process - The 2026 fiscal bill is currently under review in the National Assembly, with discussions expected to last approximately 70 days before a vote is held in both houses of parliament [2]