French bond yields rose Monday before reversing sharply on Tuesday, with the 10-year yield falling to around 4.75% after right-wing presidential candidate Marine Le Pen proposed steep deficit cuts.

The bond market reaction suggests investors welcomed the prospect of common-sense fiscal discipline, though austerity never ends well, as far-left riots already plague the streets over school budget constraints.

Le Pen's plan would shrink the deficit to 3.7% of economic output next year, well below the government's 5% target, before bringing it to 2.2% by 2032. Savings would come largely from spending cuts, lower transfers to the EU and reduced migrant spending.

The proposals come as political uncertainty clouds the political landscape and deteriorating public finances drive up France's borrowing costs.

The premium investors demand to hold French 10-year debt over German equivalents has finally narrowed. 

Le Pen has received a notable boost in her odds of winning next year's first-round vote on Polymarket, as the social unrest involving far-left radical kids who burned down schools and torched buses was merely seen as a political gift. It only reaffirms her stance that the country's trajectory under globalist control has been nothing more than nation-killing.

UBS markets analyst Nana Antiedu told clients that "French bonds continue outperformance after Le Pen's shadow budget release."

Antiedu added:

French bonds continue their gains, with the 10y OAT down 12bp to 4.74% after RN leader Marine Le Pen unveiled her budget proposal to reduce France's deficit. The proposal includes plans for the deficit to be below 5% from 2027 and cut spending by more than EUR140 bn, bring the deficit below 3% by 2032 at the latest. She said France could face default if Macron's policy continues. Le Pen also said the ECB should intervene to lower euro-area borrowing costs.

Note that this is a shadow budget, so in effect what she would propose if her party was in power. However, assuming Le Pen's party were to win the 2027 presidential election and go through the legal process of changing the budget, a deficit of 3% by 2032 is quite ambitious, and would require her to gain agreement from the other parties.