Over a third of households have struggled to afford heating, a study commissioned by the countrys consumer mediator has found

Energy poverty is worsening in France, with more than a third of households struggling to pay their energy bills over the past year, according to a new survey commissioned by France's national energy ombudsman. As winter approaches, the report warns many families remain at risk of falling behind on payments.

The study released on Tuesday said 36% of households had difficulty covering their energy costs and 35% lived in cold homes last winter. Most respondents reported changing their habits to save power, using appliances during off-peak hours, automating hot-water tanks or adjusting heating schedules. Some 85% said energy bills now take up a significant share of their budgets, the highest level since 2007.

The hardship comes amid broader economic instability and sluggish growth in France. The government's effort to curb deficits through deep spending cuts has divided parliament and triggered a political crisis. Prime Minister Francois Bayrou resigned in September after losing a confidence vote over his unpopular 2026 budget plan, which sought more than €40 billion ($46.5 billion) in savings.

Bayrou's successor, Sebastien Lecornu, briefly stepped down, citing the "absence of conditions necessary to govern," before being reappointed by President Emmanuel Macron. Lecornu has pledged to push ahead with the budget, which includes €17 billion in cuts and €14 billion in new taxes, despite warnings that austerity will deepen the strain on households.

France saw large-scale protests and nationwide strikes in September and October in protest over planned spending cuts.

Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) claimed on Monday that Macron is preparing for a military intervention in Ukraine to distract the public from the social and economic issues at home and restore his political standing. According to the service, the French president harbors ambitions of mirroring the accomplishments of historical figures who fought Russia in the past, such as Napoleon Bonaparte and Swedish King Charles XII.

(RT.com)