01/09/2003 (Agence Europe) - Whilst Monday's Le Figaro was anticipating that "without a major 'coup de théâtre, France would on 1 September have to notify the Commission of "its new state deficit forecast for 2003, equivalent to 4% of gross domestic product", German Finance Minister Hans Eichel indicated that the German state deficit would be 3.8% this year, which is above the 3% ceiling imposed by the Stability Pact. In an interview with the Welt am Sonntag, Mr Eichel said that, if the opposition supports the taxation reform proposed by the government, the deficit could fall back below 3% next year.