Amélie de Montchalin, president of the Cour des comptes, spoke about France's public debt and the mobilization of public servants during an interview with 20 Heures on September 29. France's public debt reached 3,595.5 billion euros in the second quarter of 2024, or 119% of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), marking a new record. Montchalin explained that the debt issue is not just about the annual budget deficit but also the cost of interest payments, which amount to 80 billion euros each year. She pointed out that this money could have been used to build 250 local hospitals, 600 new middle and high schools, and 150 new police stations. Montchalin warned that the political class must take action now to avoid a crisis, emphasizing that such a crisis could be avoided if a parliamentary debate is initiated. She noted that the Cour des comptes has long been warning about the need for difficult decisions and that the time for making these choices is now. These choices, she said, will be reflected in the democratic process of the upcoming presidential election. Montchalin also addressed concerns about public servants, stating that they are among the groups most affected by false information. She highlighted that the Cour des comptes has found that retired public servants do not receive more generous pensions than those in the private sector. She added that the Cour des comptes has consistently warned that during times of crisis, temporary aid measures are often introduced, but once the crisis ends, it becomes difficult to implement necessary reforms. Montchalin accepted her responsibility as a former minister of the budget and emphasized that the Cour des comptes has not issued warnings without reason. She stated that the time for making choices is now. While public servants are currently on strike, claiming they have lost purchasing power, Montchalin noted that the average purchasing power of public servants has increased by 16% between 2012 and 2024.