EU criticizes France for excessive debt

FILE - European Union officials criticized France's public debt on June 19, 2024, as French President Emmanuel Macron, shown here at the Elysee Palace in Paris on May 21, 2024, is in a tight parliamentary election race with the far right and left.

The European Union's executive arm on Wednesday criticized France for running up excessive debt, a stinging rebuke at the height of an election campaign where President Emmanuel Macron is facing a strong challenge from the extreme right and the left.